title: An experimental evaluation of theory-based mother and mother-child programs for children of divorce.
abstract: This study evaluated the efficacy of 2 theory-based preventive interventions for divorced families: a program for mothers and a dual component mother-child program. The mother program targeted mother-child relationship quality, discipline, interparental conflict, and the father-child relationship. The child program targeted active coping, avoidant coping, appraisals of divorce stressors, and mother-child relationship quality. Families with a 9- to 12-year-old child (N = 240) were randomly assigned to the mother, dual-component, or self-study program. Postintervention comparisons showed significant positive program effects of the mother program versus self-study condition on relationship quality, discipline, attitude toward father-child contact, and adjustment problems. For several outcomes, more positive effects occurred in families with poorer initial functioning. Program effects on externalizing problems were maintained at 6-month follow-up. A few additive effects of the dual-component program occurred for the putative mediators; none occurred for adjustment problems.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287, USA. sharlene.wolchik@asu.edu
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wolchik
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Sandler
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tein
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coatsworth
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lengua
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Griffin
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001130:Arizona; D002648:Child; D004243:Divorce; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome