Group versus individual applications of reciprocity training for parent-youth conflict

Thirty families in which parent-child conflict was identified as a problem were randomly assigned to an individual-family-based reciprocity training condition, a group-family-based reciprocity training condition and a waiting-list control (WLC) group. The results provided some support for the effectiveness of reciprocity training as measured by the Achenbach Aggressiveness factor and decreases in parent-recorded child problem behaviour. Both group and individual methods of presentation were superior to the WLC group on these measures from pre- to post-training. Benefits produced by training were maintained at the 2-month follow-up. Improvements were evident for all conditions on the Parent Attitude Survey. Family Relationship Index and Child Perception of Parent Behaviour Questionnaire, with no superiority of treatment conditions over the WLC group. Minimal difference in outcome was found between individual and group methods of family reciprocity training.