The Effects of Father Involvement in Parent Training for Conduct Problem Children

Thirty families who received parent training for conduct-disordered children were divided into two groups, father-involved families and father-absent families. Immediately post-treatment both groups reported significant improvements in their children's behaviors. Behavioral data showed significant increases in mother praises and reductions in mother negative behaviors, child noncompliance and deviancy. One year later the children continued to show reductions in noncompliance and deviance. However, significantly more of the mother-child dyads who maintained behavioral improvements came from father-involved families.