UCLA

The author presented results from a qualitative study of the changes experienced by 13 Latino parents of adolescents in East Los Angeles participating in a parent training program. Data collected from classroom observations, focus groups, and interviews with the instructors of the parent training program were triangulated to determine that the skills of showing love and affection and improved communication through listening instead of yelling were changes most commonly reported by parent participants positively affecting the parent-child relationship. Barriers to implementing these skills included parents' assumptions regarding the parent-child relationship, culture and upbringing, and fear of unknown outcomes. Despite these barriers, there is substantial overlap between the goals of the program and the changes reported by parents. Instructors tailored the parent training curriculum to the target demographic by engaging parents in roleplaying and by sharing personal stories and examples to provide context.