A CONTROLLED PARENTING SKILLS OUTCOME STUDY EXAMINING INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCE AND ATTENDANCE EFFECTS

This controlled study incorporates multimethod measurement procedures and addresses several deficiencies noted in prevention-focused parent skills training outcome literature. Conventional ANCOVA analyses of intervention group versus control group differences on (a) protective parenting behaviors directly targeted by the intervention and (b) general child management skills, in a sample of families residing in an economically stressed rural area (n = 209), showed significant intervention effects on both measures for both mothers and fathers. Results also indicated that both mothers' and fathers' level of intervention attendance and expressed readiness for parenting change were significant predictors of the targeted parenting outcome, as was parent self-efficacy among mothers. The targeted parenting outcome, in turn, significantly affected the general child management outcome for both mothers and fathers. Finally, findings showed a significant interaction of intervention attendance and intervention-targeted parenting behaviors at pretest for fathers.