Preventing problems with boys' noncompliance: effects of a parent training intervention for divorcing mothers

Abstract

This study provided a randomized, experimental test of the efficacy of a parent training intervention on coercive discipline, positive parenting practices, and child noncompliance in a sample of 238 divorcing mothers and their sons in Grades 1-3. Intervention effects were evaluated 5 times from baseline to 30 months. The intervention produced enduring benefits to coercive discipline, positive parenting, and boys' noncompliance. These benefits followed a classic prevention effect: Mothers and sons in the experimental group maintained stable outcome trajectories, whereas those in the control group deteriorated. The intervention's impact on boys' noncompliance was mediated independently by its impact on coercive discipline and positive parenting. Change in positive parenting was more strongly associated with change in noncompliance than was change in coercive discipline, although each explained unique variance in change in noncompliance.