Parenting through change: An effective prevention program for single mothers

This randomized experimental prevention study (a) evaluated the effectivene ss of a parent-training program in a sample of 238 divorcing mothers with s ons in Grades 1-3 and (b) provided an experimental test of coercion theory. The intervention produced reductions in observed coercive parenting, preve nted decay in positive parenting, and generally improved effective parentin g practices in comparisons of mothers in experimental and control groups. M oreover, coercion theory was supported. Improved parenting practices correl ated significantly with improvements in teacher-reported school adjustment, child-reported maladjustment, and mother-reported maladjustment. The inter vention indirectly benefitted child outcomes through improved parenting pra ctices for a model based on child report and, to a lesser extent, on teache r report. The intervention did not produce direct effects on child outcomes .