ABSTRACT
Parenting programmes were first developed several decades ago to support parents in need. From discussion groups among parents themselves to professionally led programmes, there are different forms and objectives of parenting programmes nowadays. This chapter starts by discussing the historical development of parenting programmes. Since different professionals have engaged in the development of parenting programmes, different perspectives were developed to describe the changing processes that were effective in supporting parents. This chapter introduces different perspectives on parenting programmes that bring about changes among parents. With reference to the literature, different forms of parenting programmes are discussed and reviewed regarding how effective are they in bringing about changes in adolescents as well as their parents. A comparison of both parents’ and adolescents’ outcomes from parenting programmes in Euro–American culture and in Chinese Hong Kong culture are also discussed at the end of the chapter.
