Questions
Please write a four-page paper summarizing the central tenets of parent management training (PMT).
In particular, you will discuss (a) the founder(s),
(b) view of psychopathology,
(c) mechanisms of change,
(d) goals,
(e) research outcomes,
and (f) how, if at all, the approach can be integrated with the Christian faith.
Parent Management Training
Parent Management Training (PMT) is an approach used to treat children and adolescents with behavior problems through procedures that alter behaviors. A therapist or trainer guides a family on how to change their child’s interactions systematically to reduce deviant habits (Kazdin et al., 2018). The PMT approach is also significant in the treatment and empirical support of the children who portray aggression and noncompliance. While the model relies on the bond fostered between the parent and a therapist to set a reasonable therapeutic procedure, a change in the parenting behavior results in significant adjustments in the child’s behavior.
The Background and Founders
The PMT model bases its empirical research support on the learning theory. Notably, the American Psychological Association (APA) identified the moded as well defined and empirically supported treatment method. In the 1960s, child psychologists, including Hanf, Bernal, Petterson, and Wahler, modeled the disruptive conduct of children, by attempting to moderate the parents’ behavior (Forehand et al., 2013; Kazdin et al., 2018). At the time, the psychologist’s approach contrasted with the then play therapy and psychodrama child anxiety treatment used to resolve children’s disorderly behavior. PMT modeled the functionality of operant conditioning principles, which has now been rigorously studied and recognized as the optimal intervention strategy for disruptive behaviors.
The development of PMT was also greatly influenced by Gerald Patterson’s research on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which aimed at setting socially relevant skills and actions that seek to improve the quality of life. ABA focused on parent’s and child’s relationship and sequence analysis of actions and reactions of their behaviors that cause an increase in aggression and opposition. The study’s success improved the parent-child connection and the dynamics of how a relationship could be instrumental in impacting the behaviors displayed. By borrowing ABA’s principles of parent-child interactions, PMT was able to model the positive and negative interactions that could either improve or complicate the habits displayed and the quality of the relationship.
View of Psychopathology
The parental psychopathology of the family seeking PMT services is often not considered as an essential factor. However, when determining the effectiveness of the model, it is crucial to note that parental psychopathology impacts alliance setting, treatment retention, and skills (Maliken & Katz, 2013). According to the PMT utilization records and study evidence, not all families who seek the service achieve significant results. Parental psychopathology enhances the effectiveness of the PMT model considerably compared to other factors that may affect its success. For instance, compared to the adolescents of non-depressed mothers, children whose guardians suffer from depression or substance abuse tend to have less positive PMT response (Beauchaine et al., 2005). The presence of psychopathology could impact the parent’s motivation and cognitive capacity leading to increased resistance to the treatment. Additionally, psychopathology affects the parent’s ability to internalize the skills and techniques offered in PMT therapy, leading to a limited ability to reproduce the skills under high-stress. Therefore, therapists should consider parental psychopathology when planning the PMT program to administer on a particular family.
Goals of PMT
The predominant approach of treating children with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is PMT. Markedly, the model emphasizes futile parenting practices to be the primary cause of oppositional behavior in youths. Thus, it develops interventions to assist parents in being more contingent and in line with their behavioral management practices. Ollendick et al. (2015) state that empirically documented evidence shows PMT interventions in treating ODD and other comorbid childhood psychiatric disorders to produce related outcomes in both efficacy and effectiveness tests in real-world clinical settings.
Mechanisms of Change
Parent behavior intervention aimed at treating young children’s behavior has proved effective. PMT model interventions teach parents the principles of positive behavioral reinforcements that break the patterns that cause malicious behavior and improve parenting actions causing a change in child behavior (Kazdin et al., 2018). However, research reveals that the success of PMT in children’s and parents’ subgroups do not support parenting behavior as a moderator (McMahon, 2015). Notably, a child’s age, minority status, the severity of their conduct, and parents’ socioeconomic serve as the moderator of the PMT efficacy. Overall, the success of the model correlates to the child’s conduct-problem severity and parenting habits.
Research Outcomes
PMT is among the operational techniques for the treatment of disruptive children’s behavior. Despite the extensive research that confirms its efficacy, questions arise about the expanse, coverage, and the longevity of its effects. According to a meta-analytic review of PMT moderators, the child behavioral patterns’ positive outcomes were inadequate in a group administration, but more promising in an individualized session. While low levels of child-conduct problems, socioeconomic disadvantage, and a single-parent status reduced the PMT’s desired outcome, the age and gender of a child was not an active moderator (McMahon, 2015). Notably, an individualized PMT among disadvantaged families resulted in more positive child and parent behavioral outcomes than a group PMT. Ultimately, PMT is an effective procedure when used in specific cases.
PMT Integration with Christian Faith
Although there is not enough evidence that PMT can be integrated with the adolescent’s spiritual development, it is evident that a child’s spirituality can influence psychological and social development. Specifically, PMT shapes the parent’s behavior and reinforces the positive conduct of children. Similarly, children exposed to specific religious principles, such as Christianity, tend to make positive decisions and have a proper character formation (Benson, 2004). Notably, a parent’s spiritual influence on the children impacts their physical, social, and psychological development. For instance, Christianity teaches children about the rewards and consequences of their actions (Smith, 2005). Therefore, borrowing from the doctrine of parental training, a parent can influence a child’s spiritual practices that could lead to positive life values and behavioral outcomes.
Conclusion
The parental training model is an effective intervention based on empirical reviews, societal applicability, and generalizability. Besides, analysis proves that a change in parenting behavior generates a mechanism that alters a child’s behavior. A meta-analytic review confirms that the PMT model is less productive when administered to economically disadvantaged households, single-parent families, and children with Callous-unemotional (CU) traits but efficient to solve dire behavioral problems in children. Overall, individualized PMT sessions are more successful as compared to a group family administration.
References
Beauchaine, T. P., Webster-Stratton, C., & Reid, M. J. (2005). Mediators, moderators, and predictors of 1-Year outcomes among children treated for early-onset conduct problems: A latent growth curve analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(3), 371-388. DOI:10.1037/0022-006x.73.3.371
Benson, P. L. (2004). Emerging themes in research on adolescent spiritual and religious development. Applied Developmental Science, 8(1), 47-50. DOI:10.1207/s1532480xads0801_6
Kazdin, A. E., Glick, A., Pope, J., Kaptchuk, T. J., Lecza, B., Carrubba, E., … Hamilton, N. (2018). Parent management training for conduct problems in children: Enhancing treatment to improve therapeutic change. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 18(2), 91-101. DOI:10.1016/j.ijchp.2017.12.002
Maliken, A. C., & Katz, L. F. (2013). Exploring the impact of parental psychopathology and emotion regulation on evidence-based parenting interventions: A transdiagnostic approach to improving treatment effectiveness. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 16(2), 173-186. DOI:10.1007/s10567-013-0132-4
McMahon, R. J. (2015). Parenting skills. Parent Management Training Interventions for Preschool-Age Children, (3), 745-773. Retrieved from www.child-encyclopedia.com/parenting-skills/according-experts/parent-management-training-interventions-preschool-age-children
Smith, C. (2005). Soul searching: The religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers. Oxford University Press, USA.
Forehand, R., Jones, D. J., & Parent, J. (2013). Behavioral parenting interventions for child disruptive behaviors and anxiety: What’s different and what’s the same. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(1), 133-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2012.10.010
Ollendick, T. H., Greene, R. W., Austin, K. E., Fraire, M. G., Halldorsdottir, T., Allen, K. B., Jarrett, M. A., Lewis, K. M., Whitmore Smith, M., Cunningham, N. R., Noguchi, R. J., Canavera, K., & Wolff, J. C. (2015). Parent management training and collaborative & proactive solutions: A randomized control trial for oppositional youth. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 45(5), 591-604. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2015.1004681
Order an Essay Now & Get These Features For Free:
Turnitin Report
Formatting
Title Page
Citation
Outline
