Efficacy of ACT Components to Increase Effectiveness of Behavioral Parent Training

Prior research has demonstrated both the efficacy of behavioral parent training in effectively teaching parent skill implementation; and of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) based training program in improving perceived parenting abilities. The purpose of the present study was to assess the efficacy of an ACT based training component, following a behavioral parent training, in increasing participant integrity of skill implementation. Targeted dependent measures included: (1) participant integrity of skill implementation (analog & in vivo), (2) score on Parental Locus of Control Scale (PLOCS), (3) frequency of participant child problem behavior, and (4) frequency of coercive caregiver interactions. Although the effects of intervention on reducing child problem behavior were limited, the overall effects of intervention were determined to have been successful in their primary objectives of altering caregiver covert verbal behavior in regards to parenting abilities and increasing integrity of implementation