As the structure of the American family changes, it is becoming more common for children to be raised by their grandparents. In fact, over the past 40 years, there has been a 50% increase in grandparent-headed homes in the US (Ellis and Simmons, 2014). Custodial grandparents, who provide primary caregiving responsibilities for their grandchildren, often become responsible for their grandchildren due to distressing situations and report many social-emotional, physical, and psychological difficulties (e.g., Hayslip and Kaminski, 2005). Additionally, children of custodial grandparents have been found to have significantly more emotional and behavioral problems than non-custodial grandchildren (Smith and Palmieri, 2007). The main parenting resource for this population is often support-groups, which often do not provide needed assistance with discipline and behavior management. The overall purpose of this study was to adapt Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to custodial grandparents, using a consumer-oriented approach. The study was completed in three discrete stages. During Stage 1, qualitative interviews with custodial grandparents were completed to collect further information about custodial grandparents' experience parenting their grandchildren, use of parenting resources, and opinion of parenting strategies and PCIT. Findings from this stage indicated that custodial grandparents were amenable to PCIT procedures, but experienced significant barriers in accessing parenting services. Due to these barriers, a service delivery adaptation was developed and an online intervention was created (Stage 2) to transcend treatment barriers. Finally, during Stage 3, this online intervention was tested in a small single-subject design pilot study. Multiple metrics supported the feasibility, accessibility, satisfaction, and initial treatment efficacy of this intervention. All participants demonstrated clinically significant reductions in at least two symptom measures and reported satisfaction with the online intervention. Overall, results provide preliminary support for the use of online interventions to teach PCIT strategies and support future research on online interventions for this population. / Ph. D. / The overall purpose of this study was to adapt Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to custodial grandparents, using a consumer-oriented approach. The study was completed in three stages. During Stage 1, interviews with custodial grandparents were completed to collect further information about custodial grandparents’ experience parenting their grandchildren, use of parenting resources, and opinion of parenting strategies and PCIT. Findings from this stage indicated that custodial grandparents were amenable to PCIT procedures, but experienced significant barriers to accessing parenting services. Due to these barriers, a service delivery adaptation was developed, and an online intervention was created (Stage 2) to transcend treatment barriers. Finally, during Stage 3, this online intervention was tested in a small pilot study. Multiple metrics supported the feasibility, accessibility, satisfaction, and initial treatment efficacy of this intervention. Overall, results provide preliminary support for the use of online interventions to teach PCIT strategies and support future research on online interventions for this population.

Background: Behaviour difficulties are one of the commonest problems for which parents seek professional advice. Behaviour difficulties in early childhood are associated with poorer educational and social outcomes in later life (Loeber & Dishion, 1983). The importance of early intervention and preventative work to support behaviour difficulties has been stressed in the literature and is a priority in the government’s strategy for promoting positive outcomes for children. It is now generally accepted that parenting programmes (PPs) are an effective mechanism for supporting children with behaviour difficulties. A review of the literature suggests that while there are numerous evaluations of PPs there is limited evidence of PPs that are successful outside of a clinic setting and even less evidence on particular aspects of PPs and how parents view them. Aims: The main aim of this research was to explore a community based PP (the Holding Hands Group Programme (HHGP)) in terms of both its outcomes and the perceptions of the parents involved. The aim of paper one was to investigate whether families who undergo the HHGP, notice any improvement in child behaviour, parental stress and parental confidence. A second aim was to compare the HHGP to the previously evaluated Holding Hands Individual Programme (HHIP). The aim of paper two was to examine the process elements of the Holding Hands Group Programme (HHGP), seeking new insights and a detailed descriptive portrayal of how parents experience the HHGP. Methods: The study utilised a pragmatic approach to evaluation, with mixed methods and differing methodologies. Paper 1 involved a fixed quasi-experimental design using a pre-test, post-test single group evaluation. Outcome data was gathered from 34 parental responses to a range of psychometric measures completed on each of three occasions. Paper 2 involved semi-structured interviews being carried out with 15 parents prior to, and on completion of, the HHGP. The interviews focused on parent’s experiences of the programme and what they liked/disliked. Results: Paper 1: At the start of the HHGP parents typically reported high levels of intensity of behaviour, behaviour that was a problem and stress levels. They also reported low levels of parental confidence. By the end of the HHGP parents reported significantly increased confidence and significantly reduced stress, intensity of behaviour and behaviour that was problem. These positive results were maintained beyond the end of the programme as indicated at follow-up meetings. The findings indicate that the HHGP was effective for all identified subgroups of the sample. These findings broadly mirror the findings of the evaluation of the HHIP, although results do show some significant differences between the HHIP and the HHGP. Paper 2: The interviews conducted with fifteen parents were analysed using a rigorous approach to thematic analysis to identify emerging themes. Six themes were identified from parental accounts: support, new knowledge, reconstructing, awareness, changes and interactions. Alongside these themes was a practical element about ‘what worked’. Prior to the HHGP parents gave detailed descriptions about the difficulties that they were experiencing with their child, were able to identify what they wanted to achieve through the group and seemed able to predict what might be useful to them. After the sessions parents discussed what they had gained from taking part and were able to give suggestions for what had caused any changes. Extensions and Implications: On methodological grounds it would be desirable to undertake further work with either a control group, or baseline wait list. A further extension would be to use a longer follow up period or to contact the current participants to see how this cohort is coping when they start school. This study relied on self report data, therefore future work could consider the use of videoing interactions. It would also be useful to extend the interview process to include the follow up period. The results of this study imply that PPs can be delivered effectively to groups in non-clinic settings, and this suggests a route to more cost-effective delivery of PPs. However, as the results indicate that the HHGP was not successful for all, it reminds us that practitioners need to be vigilant in attempting to identify those families that are not helped and flexible in trying to assist them in other ways - perhaps via booster sessions or through the use of self-guided written materials.

The purpose of this study is to explore empowerment in Parent‑Child Interaction therapy (PCIT). Research has shown that attachment issues and child maltreatment are serious social problems that may lead to risks of child abuse and children developing mental illnesses. Interventions, like PCIT have shown to decrease these risks by improving the parent‑child interactions by enhancing parent skill levels and by decreasing parent stress levels and child behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine whether enhancing parent skills and decreasing parent stress levels would therefore increase parent empowerment. This study utilized a quantitative method to examine potential growth in parent empowerment. The current study consisted of 20 cases in which parents completed PCIT and had pre- and post- Dyadic parent‑child interaction coding system (DPICS) and Parent Stress Index (PSI) scores. Results indicated that PCIT enhanced parent skills but did not decrease stress levels as first hypothesized. Therefore, enhanced skills and decreased stress levels were found to not be a sufficient measure of parent empowerment. The PCIT literature has shown that PCIT successfully enhances parent skills, which in turn has shown to decrease the risk of child abuse. It is recommended that individual environmental factors and life stressors be considered in addition to the parents participating in PCIT to better enhance parent empowerment.

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

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, May, 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ball State University, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Nov. 04, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-122).

M.Ed. / A few pupils attending schools for extraordinary education have been diagnosed as children with Asperger 'syndrome. The change in diagnostic criteria in the DSM-IV and accompanying redefining of Asperger syndrome brought about an increase in diagnosing as well as a greater awareness of this syndrome. The most important characteristic of Asperger syndrome is the serious and continuous effect it has on the child's social interaction. This syndrome affects the whole functioning of the child and these children demand much more of their educators. There is, however, no clarity concerning the specific problems the parents of children with Aspergersyndrome encounter and educational psychologists are not sure to what extent the parents of these children are in need of guidance in the handling of their children's educational and developmental problems. Because of the above-mentioned uncertainties the following research questions are asked: How do parents of children with Asperger syndrome experience their children's dysfunctional social dynamics? What guidelines can be given to the educational psychologist when advising parents on how to handle their children with Asperger syndrome? By means of a literary study the educational situation of the child with Asperger syndrome is explored first. The diagnosing, typical symptoms and associated characteristics of these children, educational involvement with these children and parental guidance from an educational psychological perspective, is mentioned. The research done in this study is qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual and aims to bring about insight and understanding in the experience and needs of parents with children who have Asperger syndrome. The research method used, was the interviewing of parents of children with Asperger syndrome and the data received was analysed by means of an inductive and descriptive method of analysis. Four themes were determined: (1) the parents' experience of the social disfunction of their children with Asperger syndrome, (2) the influence that a child with Asperger syndrome has on relationships inside and outside the nuclear family, (3) the more complicated and demanding educational involvement of a parent of a child with Asperger syndrome and (4) the need for and realization of parental support and guidance of parents of children with Asperger syndrome. A number of guidelines, based on the themes identified by the analysis of the data have been developed for educational psychologists in their guidance of these parents. To conclude - research has indicated that the educational psychologist guiding the parents of children with Asperger syndrome ought to, have the necessary therapeutic skills, be a knowledgable specialist in the field of Asperger syndrome (and pervasive developmental disorders), be objective and professional and have the required knowledge and skills concerning teacher-guidance and group-leadership. It has also been established that parents of children with Asperger syndrome don't always have the educational skills to comply with their child's special needs and thus, in need off parental guidance. The parents, however, find themselves in an unique family unit which results in the fact that parental guidance cannot be prescribed in an encompassing model but has to be adapted to the practical- and emotional needs of each individual family unit.

M.Ed. / This study investigates parents' conception of their children who have been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD). The view being to describe and explain their conception and to lay down principles for the implementation of parental guidance. The rationale for this study is derived from the researcher's experiences that parents' emotions, experiences and points of view are seldom taken into account in the multidisciplinary intervention process regarding children with AD/HD. Parents are the primary educators of their children, therefore it is important to involve the parents in the intervention process. For the involvement to be of optimal value, therapists need to have an understanding of the conceptions of these parents regarding children with AD/HD. Therapists who know where the parents are, and what their emotions and experiences are, find themselves in a better position to provide relevant parental guidance in an empathetic manner. This study presents a framework of theory in which AD/HD is clearly explicated. The experiences and needs of parents of children with AD/HD and the role of parental guidance is discussed. The focus then shifts to therapy and parental guidance from a constructivistic perspective. In the constructivistic view the therapist is the facilitator of change and this has implications for the goal of therapy and the therapeutic relationship. Parental guidance from a constructivistic perspective is recommended as an alternative way of involving parents (with their emotions, experiences and conceptions) in the process of helping children with AD/HD. The framework of theory is followed by a chapter on the design of the research, substantiating the choice of format and methods of data collection and analysis. The data is reported in the final chapter. Examples of raw data from transcriptions and sketches are presented. Finally, the consolidated data is interpreted. The most significant findings of this study are that parents of children with AD/HD experience their educational task as problematic, that these parents don't receive any form of (structured) parental guidance and/or support and that they experience a great need for the latter. iv This study proposes that a parental guidance program should be implemented in order to meet the needs of the parents of children with AD/HD and to provide them with the necessary support. Five implications for the implementation of such a program are discussed. The study concludes with the thought that children with AD/HD who live in a happy and supportive family unit, have a far better chance to reach their full potential and to be successful in life than those who don't. It is therefore important to assist parents in the provision of such an environment.

This quasi-experimental study examined the effects of child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT) with low income first generation immigrant Hispanic parents. Forty-eight parents were randomly assigned by school site to the experimental group (n=24) and to the no treatment control group (n=24). A two factor (Time x Group) repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to examine the effects of group membership (experimental, control) and time (pretest, posttest) on each of the six hypotheses. Dependent variables for the Spanish version of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) included Externalizing Problems, Internalizing Problems, and Total Problems. Dependent variables for the Spanish version of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) included Child Domain, Parent Domain, and Total Stress. Results indicated that from pre-test to post-test, parents who participated in the CPRT treatment group reported a statistically significant improvement on their children's behaviors at the alpha .025 level (Internalizing Problems p< .001; Externalizing Problems p< .001; Total Problems p<.001) when compared to children whose parents did not participate in CPRT. Partial eta squared (ηp2) further indicated that the effects of CPRT treatment on the experimental group compared to the control group from pre-test to post-test was large (ηp2 = .56; ηp2 = .59; and ηp2 = .68, respectively). Similarly, results indicated that from pre-test to post-test, parents who participated in the CPRT treatment group reported a statistically significant improvement on parent-child relationship stress at the alpha .025 level (Child Domain p< .001; Parent Domain p< .001; Total Stress p< .001) when compared to parents who did not participate in CPRT. Partial eta squared (ηp2) further indicated that the effects of CPRT treatment on the experimental group compared to the control group from pre-test to post-test was large (ηp2 = .39; ηp2 = .51; and ηp2 = .42, respectively).

Maternal depression has a negative impact on child development and the parent-child relationship (NICHD Early Child Care Research Network, 1999). The purpose of this study was to determine the treatment effectiveness of Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) with mothers identified with high levels of depressive symptoms in comparison with mothers with low levels of depressive symptoms and their children with behavior problems. The treatment effectiveness of PCIT was measured by pre- to post-treatment changes in the quality of parent-child relationship and reductions in child behavior problems, maternal depression, and parental stress. Subjects were 23 mothers identified with low levels of depressive symptoms and 26 mothers identified with high levels of depressive symptoms and their children. Findings showed there were improvements at post-treatment for both groups in child behavior problems, the quality of the parent-child relationship, maternal depressive symptoms, and parent stress levels. Mothers in the high depressive symptoms group reported achieving greater treatment gains when compared to the mothers in the low symptom group.