Use of an interactive laserdisc parent training program with teenage parents

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a brief in teractive laserdisc parent training program in instructing teenage parents. Previous research supported the effectiveness of this program with parents of adolescents and pre adolescents. Sixty two pregnant or parenting adoles cents were assigned to either a control group or to parent training via the interactive laserdisc program plus group discussion. The group discussion was designed to instruct the parents in the appropriate application of the skills taught in the program to toddlers. Compared to the control group, th e intervention group scored significantly higher at two month follow-up on measures of parenting knowledge, belief in the effectiveness of adaptive pa renting practices over coercive practices, and application of adaptive pare nting skills to hypothetical problem situations. This study provides prelim inary evidence that this program can be a useful tool in instructing teenag e parents.