Effectiveness of a parent training program in (pre)adolescence: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial Patty Leijten a, * , Geertjan Overbeek a , Jan M.A.M. Janssens b a Department of Developmental Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands b Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands Keywords: Parent training Child behavior problems Parenting Randomized controlled trial (Pre)adolescence abstract The present randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of the parent training program Parents and Children Talking Together (PCTT) for parents with children in the preadolescent period who experience parenting difficulties. The program is focused on reducing child problem behavior by improving parents’ communication and problem solving skills, and disciplining behavior. Largest effects were expected for families with higher SES, and with children in mid-adolescence. Multi-informant and multi-method data were used from 78 self-referred families with children aged 9–16 (M ¼ 13.09, SD ¼ 1.75). Intention-to-treat analysis (retention rate 95%; immediate posttest only) showed that participation in PCTT significantly improved parents’ communication and problem solving skills (F(1,70) ¼ 11.77, p < 0.01 and F(1,70) ¼ 12.87, p < 0.01), and reduced their dysfunctional disciplining behavior in conflict situations (F(1,70) ¼ 5.25, p < .0.05). The PCTT intervention was most effective for parents with higher SES and for parents with children between the ages of 14 and 16. No consistent gender effects were found. Ó 2011 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Externalizing behavior problems put children at risk for several developmental difficulties, such as academic failure, substance abuse, developing an antisocial personality, and delinquent behavior (Loeber & Hay, 1997; Moffitt, 1993). One of the most promising types of interventions aimed at reducing child problem behavior is parent training. Several meta-analyses have shown that parent training leads to more adequate parental disciplining practices and reduces child problem behavior – and is generally cost-effective in doing so (Dretzke et al., 2005; McCart, Priester, Davies, & Azen, 2006). However, not all parent training programs are equally effective. Behavioral parent training programs that teach parents disciplining skills to change their child’s behavior are generally more effective in reducing child behavior problems than nonbehavioral parent training programs that alter parental attitudes towards childrearing (Lundahl, Risser, & Lovejoy, 2006). Although parent training programs are extensively studied, knowledge about the effectiveness of parent training programs for parents of (pre)adolescent children outside the USA is limited. In the present study, we therefore examined the effectiveness of a European parent training called Parents and Children Talking Together (PCTT). Theoretical background of PCTT PCTT was developed for parents with preadolescent and early adolescent children, who are characterized by starting or relatively mild behavior problems (Van As & Janssens, 1995). The content of PCTT is based on theoretical insights from Parent * Corresponding author. Tel.: þ31 30 253 94 73; fax: þ31 30 253 4718. E-mail address: p.h.o.leijten@uu.nl (P. Leijten). Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Journal of Adolescence journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jado 0140-1971/$ – see front matter Ó 2011 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.11.009 Journal of Adolescence xxx (2012) 1–10 Please cite this article in press as: Leijten, P., et al., Effectiveness of a parent training program in (pre)adolescence: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial, Journal of Adolescence (2012), doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.11.009