THE EFFECTS OF A PARENT GROUP EDUCATION PROGRAM ON ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS WITHIN FAMILY SYSTEMS

The importance of primary prevention programs with parents using an educational group approach appears to be well established. However, frequently only one parent of a family system is involved in a parent group, yet the effects on other members in a family system are important to consider.;The methodology involved one leader who conducted three parent groups using the Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) program. The experimental groups totaled 18 mothers, 16 fathers, and 18 target children. Only the mothers participated in the parent program. A control group composed of parents assigned to a "waiting list" included 18 mothers, 18 fathers, and 18 children. A Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design was used. All parents were given the Parent Attitude Survey and the Adlerian Parental Assessment of Child Behavior Scale.;Results indicated that experimental group mothers did not demonstrate overall significant changes in parental attitudes. Experimental group fathers did demonstrate significant changes in terms of acceptance of the child and view of parents as determining the child's behavior. Experimental group mothers demonstrated more positive changes in their perceptions of their children's behaviors. Experimental group fathers did not demonstrate more positive changes in their perceptions of their children's behavior. Target children did not change in their perceptions of mother or father behavior.;The additional measures indicated mothers were aware of major techniques and principles of STEP, expressed satisfaction with the sessions, and felt program strategies helped in relating with their children. Mothers and fathers stated they did discuss STEP techniques. In addition, there was general agreement on which techniques were discussed and when they were discussed.;The purpose of the present study was to assess the attitudes and perceptions of parents enrolled in a parent group and their spouses who were not enrolled. In addition, the target children's perceptions of both parents' behavior were assessed.;Results of the Pearson r correlations appeared to indicate: (a) significant agreement between spouses as to the extent they discussed and observed each other using STEP, (b) parents' agreement with the principles/techniques of the program was related to noted attitude changes, (c) mothers reporting the most communication evidenced greater changes in perceptions of their children's behavior, and mothers who reported that their spouses viewed STEP more favorably demonstrated more positive changes on several attitude scales, and (d) fathers who reported discussing STEP more with their spouses demonstrated more changes on several attitude scales relative to other fathers, and fathers who rated spouses as using STEP the most demonstrated more positive changes in their perceptions of their children's behavior. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).