Parent management training in a Chinese population: Application and outcome

Objective: To examine the applicability and outcome of parent management tr aining in a group of Chinese children referred for aggressive and defiant b ehaviors. Method: Twenty-five children (aged 4-10 years) were assigned to a standardized 8 to 12 sessions of parent management training. Trained child and adolescent psychiatric nurses conducted the treatment. Measures taken at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 4-month follow-up period included the C hild Behavior Checklist, direct observation of parent-child interactions, a nd a parent perception inventory. Results: Significant therapeutic gains oc curred in parent-child interactions, externalizing behaviors, acid parents' perception of their parenting behaviors. These were maintained at 4-month follow-up. Fifty-two percent of cases improved to a level below clinical cu toffs. Poor parent-child interactions had stronger correlation with externa lizing disturbances than internalizing disturbances. The changes in parent- child interactions had low correlation with the changes in the symptom prof iles. Conclusions: The data provide preliminary evidence for the efficacy o f parent management training for Chinese children with conduct problems. Th e rationale for its success and modifications to improve its cultural sensi tivity are discussed.