The effects of parent education on the childrearing attitudes of parents

Abstract

In order to determine the effects of a program of parent education on parents' attitudes toward their children, twenty-three self-selected parents from various communities in Southwestern Virginia were surveyed. Eighteen parents, comprising the experimental treatment condition, received training in parent group education taught by graduate students at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Testing occurred at the beginning of the first class and was repeated during the last session. A six- to eight-week follow-up measurement was administered also. A group of five additional participants were assigned to a delayed treatment condition. Testing was administered to this group at the same six- to eight-week intervals as the experimental groups; however, this group did not receive the parent education treatment until after the second measurement.

This study tested four hypotheses. The first two focused on changes in specified parental attitudes as a result of participation in a parent education program. Pre-treatment and post-treatment measurements were tested in the null form using the correlated t statistic. No significant differences were found. The second pair of hypotheses was directed toward change in parental attitudes six to eight weeks later. An examination of posttest and follow-up scores revealed again no significant differences.