Patterns of change in family-based aggression prevention

Patterns of change on three intervention targets were examined in 151 famil ies that participated in a family intervention designed to reduce and preve nt children's aggressive behavior Measures of parents' alliance and parenti ng skills and children's aggressive behavior were obtained at five rimes du ring the intervention. Three cluster analyses were conducted to identify pa tterns of change on each target. Linear and nonlinear patterns of improveme nt as well as two distinct patterns of no change were obtained. The pattern s were differentiated by net improvement, overall level of skill, and traje ctory of change. Family characteristics also differentiated the patterns an d relations were found among patterns across intervention targets. The clin ical implications of these findings are discussed.