Glasser's parent training model: Effects on child and parent functioning

Abstract

The literature supports the use of parent training as a viable treatment for children with behavioral problems. Compared to other outpatient interventions for children with acting out behaviors, parent training has been shown to be the most effective treatment and also the most completely evaluated one. One issue related to the existing parent training programs is the use of individual or small group format, making them less cost-effective than a large group model. Another issue is that positive effects achieved in-home as a result of parent training rarely generalize to the school setting. The present study investigated Glasser's parent training program which was designed to decrease identified behaviors in the home as well as in the school. In addition, this program employs a large group format relative to other prominent parent training programs. A quasi-experimental, two group (i.e., treatment and comparison) pretest-posttest design was used for this study. Mothers with children ages 5 to 12 comprised the groups. Multivariate analyses of variances were conducted to examine the pre-post changes for the two groups with respect to child and parent functioning. Relative to the subjects in the comparison group, those involved in Glasser's parent training program demonstrated significant changes in parent functioning and child functioning (in-home, but not in the school setting).