ABSTRACT
Behavioral parent training is one of the most widely used interventions for children with externalizing problem behaviors. This type of treatment has emerged as an empirically supported intervention for this population, and reviews have consistently demonstrated the effi cacy of behavioral management techniques in reducing problem behaviors.1,2 A number of studies, however, have indicated that these techniques are not successful for all families, and that characteristics of the parent, child, and environment affect treatment outcome.3,4 Specifi cally, ethnic diversity, resource availability/socioeconomic status (SES), and family structure (e.g., single parent families, grandparent or other legal guardian as primary caregiver, multiple caregivers in multiple households) may moderate treatment effects. These variables are important for clinicians to consider when providing treatment to a family, as they likely play a role in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of problematic externalizing behaviors. In fact, assessment tools and intervention techniques may need to be modifi ed to enhance the success of a parent training program.
