The efficacy of parent training for promoting positive parent-toddler relationships

Res Nurs Health. 1995 Dec;18(6):489-99. doi: 10.1002/nur.4770180605.

Abstract

The effectiveness of a parent training program for promoting positive parent-child relationships was examined among families of 2-year-olds. Forty-six mothers and fathers and their toddlers were assigned to either an intervention or comparison group. Intervention group parents participated in a 10-week program that focused on principles for effectively interacting with their toddlers. Parents completed measures of parenting self-efficacy, depression, stress, and perceptions of their toddler's behaviors and were videotaped playing with their toddlers preintervention, postintervention, and 3 months following the intervention. Repeated measures ANOVAs showed that the parent training program led to significant increases in maternal self-efficacy, decreases in maternal stress, and improvements in the quality of mother-toddler interactions. No significant effects were found among fathers. Explanations for obtaining different outcomes for mothers and fathers are discussed and directions for future research are recommended.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Child Behavior / psychology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Parents / education*
  • Parents / psychology
  • Psychological Tests
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology
  • Urban Population