A preliminary evaluation of the Colorado RETHINK Parenting and Anger Management program.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose was to report preliminary behavioral, social, and emotional results, and to project some potential economic results of a parenting and anger management program in a mountain state.


METHODS
Following local and state-wide needs assessments, child abuse prevention was identified as the number two critical issue. An effective, research-based, preventive educational workshop program--RETHINK Parenting and Anger Management--was selected for testing and program evaluation. Measurable outcome objectives were written and assessments were developed and tested. A one-group pretest-posttest design with a convenience sample of parents was used for the study. Seventy-five of 99 parents completed pretests before and posttests after participating in the 6-week series of skill-enhancing workshops.


RESULTS
Using a repeated measures analysis of variance, participants' group mean anger control levels increased (p = .016). Their family conflict levels fell (p = .006). Their overall anger levels fell (p = .000). Their violence levels fell, verbal aggression levels fell (p = .002). Their partners' violence levels also fell, verbal aggression levels fell (p = .004), and physical aggression levels fell (p = .032). In addition, participants reported increased knowledge levels (100%), improved attitudes (97.3%), improved behaviors (94.7%), and decreased unrealistic expectations of their children (69.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that professional preventive education specialists may now have an effective program to assist parents in managing their anger. Further research is encouraged. When parents participate in 6 weeks of skill building with well-trained professionals, positive changes in parenting and anger management are possible.
D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016896:Treatment Outcome