Does parent training with young noncompliant children have long-term effects?

The current study was a long-term follow-up (approx. 14 yr following treatment) of 26 late adolescents/young adults (17 yr and older) who had participated in parent training with their mothers when they were young (2-7 yr old) noncompliant children. Parent training, consisting of teaching mothers to use attends and rewards for appropriate behavior, clear commands and time-out, had reduced deviant behavior and increased compliance immediately following treatment. At this follow-up, these individuals were compared to a matched community sample on various measures of delinquency, emotional adjustment, academic progress and relationship with parents. No differences emerged between the two groups on any of the measures, suggesting that noncompliant children who participated in parent training during their early years are functioning as well as nonclinic individuals as they move into adulthood.