title: Effectiveness of Parent-Child Mediation in Improving Family Functioning and Reducing Adolescent Problem Behavior: Results from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: Parent-child mediation programs are intended to resolve or manage disputes and improve family functioning, but rigorous evaluations of their effectiveness are lacking. Families referred to a community-based mediation program (N = 111) were randomized to an intervention or wait-list control group, and completed three surveys over a 12-week period. With the exception of parent-reported child delinquency (which decreased more in the intervention group), this evaluation provides little support for the short-term effectiveness of parent-child mediation for improving family functioning and reducing child problem behaviors in general. Given that this is the first randomized controlled trial of a parent-child mediation program, additional evaluations involving larger samples and longer follow-ups are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of this intervention.
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90407-2138, USA. jtucker@rand.org.
authors.forename: Joan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation, 20 Park Plaza, Suite 920, Boston, MA, 02116, USA.
authors.forename: Maria Orlando
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Edelen
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90407-2138, USA.
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000066553:Problem Behavior; D011340:Problem Solving
keywords: Academic performance; Delinquency; Family functioning; Parent–child mediation; Substance use