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Citation |
Feldman MA, Case L, Sparks B. Can. J. Behav. Sci. 1992; 24(1): 14-28. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 1992, Canadian Psychological Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing) |
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DOI |
unavailable |
PMID |
unavailable |
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Abstract |
Although child neglect can have serious negative repercussions on the child, few studies have examined interventions designed to mitigate maltreatment through parental skill remediation. We evaluated home-based parent training consisting of instructions, picture books, modelling, feedback, and tangible reinforcement to teach crucial child-care skills (e.g., diapering, bathing, feeding, safety) to 22 low IQ mothers considered at-risk for child neglect. Initially, the mean correct performance (64%) of the low IQ mothers was significantly lower than the mean (85%) of a comparison group of 12 nonhandicapped mothers with similar-aged children. The low IQ mothers were then randomly assigned to a training or a control group. Posttests, given a mean of 14 weeks after the pretests, showed that the mean percent correct score (88%) of the training group was then similar to that of the nonhandicapped comparison mothers, with both significantly greater than the mean (61%) of the control group. The training group maintained improvements up to 76 weeks following training, and the control group, when subsequently trained, had a mean score of 92%. Finally, where it could be observed, the health of the children improved concomitant with the parents learning proper child-care (e.g., elimination of diaper rash, increased rate of weight gain, toilet training). The results indicate that parent training in child-care may help reduce the likelihood of child neglect due to parental incompetency. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 1992. Copyright © 1992 by the Canadian Psychological Association) |