The purpose of this study was to explore parental views on the efficacy of parent-child interaction therapy. Research indicates that early intervention and prevention is essential when treating children with disruptive behaviors. Intervening at an early age prevents the disruptive behaviors from progressing into more complex disorders that can occur in the teenage and adult years. This study utilized a quantitative method to better understand if parents identified as parent-child interaction therapy as effective. This study consisted of 29 parent-child dyads that had completed parent-child interaction therapy and reported their satisfaction with parent-child interaction therapy through the use of parent-stress index scores. Results indicated that parent-child interaction therapy was viewed as successful by parents. However, success of parent-child interaction therapy is only applicable to certain domains that were chosen in this study; limiting the generalizability of overall success of parent-child interaction therapy. Parent-child interaction therapy has shown success in strengthening the parent-child dyad and decreasing disruptive behaviors such as distractibility and hyperactivity. It is recommended that parent-child interaction therapy continue to be utilized by professionals and focus on all the domains rather than selected domains.

Unintentional injury is a leading cause of childhood death and disability in the U.S. Notably, atypically-developing children are at greater risk for unintentional injuries than their typically developing peers. A key question is how to prevent these injuries in both typically- and atypically-developing children. As children gain independence, responsibility for the regulation of risky behaviors must transfer from parents to children. This likely happens in a variety of ways, one of which is parent-child conversations about safety. Past work has examined the content of parent-child safety conversations in typically-developing children and found that mothers use disagreements, supported by references to dangerous features of the activity and the adverse outcomes that might result, as a means of bringing children around to their own way of thinking about safety. Still unknown is what these conversations look like while parents and children are engaged in common, yet potentially unsafe activities, such as crossing roads with traffic. Nor do we know what these conversations look like in at-risk populations, such as children with ADHD. Evidence points to poor executive function and oppositionality, commonly comorbid with ADHD, as driving the increased injury risk in this population. We assessed parent-child safety conversations in real time while parents and their children (with and without ADHD) were engaged in a simulated risky activity: crossing traffic-filled roads in our pedestrian simulator. Recorded conversations were coded and parents completed several questionnaires and diagnostic assessments regarding their and their child’s ADHD symptoms. While fewer symptomology differences related to parent-child conversations emerged than initially anticipated, many that did were primarily driven by oppositionality. These findings support previous claims that oppositionality increases injury risk in this population and contributes to poorer parent-child interactions.

Background/aims. Self-compassion is an approach of kindness towards the self; encompassing self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness (Neff, 2003b). It is thought to enable awareness that suffering is common within human experience, encouraging compassion for others. Parental sensitivity and attributions are considered to influence parent-child relationships and have been negatively associated with depression. This study aimed to explore associations between parent self-compassion, attributions of child behaviour and sensitive responding in recurrently depressed parents. Methods/participants. This was a correlational design using baseline data from a feasibility randomised controlled trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. The 38 participants had experienced recurrent major depressive episodes, were in remission and had at least one child between two and six years old. Self-compassion was measured by the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; Neff, 2003b). Parent attributions of child behaviour were assessed by semi-structured interviews and rated using the Attributions Measure (S. Scott & M. Dadds, personal communication, 2009). Sensitivity was assessed using a parent-child observation task and rated by the Coding of Attachment-Related Parenting (Matias, Scott & O’Connor, 2006). Results. Findings show significant correlations between higher SCS total scores and external attributions of positive or negative valence. The SCS subscale self-judgement was significantly negatively correlated with sensitivity. Conclusion. In conclusion, higher self-compassion was positively associated with external attributions of child behaviour in either situation. Parents with higher levels of self-compassion also showed positive associations with sensitivity. These associations support current theories suggesting self-compassion could be positively associated with parenting. Areas for future research and clinical implications are considered.

Benchmarking offers community practitioners more systematic judgments about research effectiveness when control groups are not feasible, while also providing a standard for program transportability from clinical to community settings. The purpose of the current study was to outline the necessary decisions, calculations, and strengths and limitations of applying benchmarking methodologies to a behavioral parent training (BPT) program, a field in which benchmarking remains relatively underutilized. The implementation of in-home Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based practice shown to be successful in reducing child maltreatment and neglect, was evaluated as a case study of the application of benchmarking. Of those parents that completed in-home PCIT, a significant reduction was seen for pre-post ECBI scores. Six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were established as benchmarks based on similarity in parent and child demographics as well as use of the ECBI as a primary measure. Effect sizes of each benchmark study were aggregated to create a single benchmark effect size for treatment and control groups, respectively. The effect size of the current study was found to be significantly superior to the control benchmark effect size but not significantly equivalent to the treatment benchmark effect size. Although the current study demonstrates the use of benchmarking in community research, the need for further guidelines is critical for researchers.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, May, 2007. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographic references.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Auburn University, 2008. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. [33]-41).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, May, 2008. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 1999. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 128 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 60-72).