Improving communication between parents and adolescents: an assessment of parent training (GEA)

Chiara Verzeletti, Claudia Marino, Michela Frezza, Carlo Cenedese, Alessandro Becagli, Paolo Santoro, Massimo Santinello

Parent training is an important educational tool for promoting wellbeing, a positive relationship and
effective communication between parents and adolescents. In literature there are few studies that have
evaluated the effectiveness of parent training. The aim of this study is to analyse the effectiveness
of parent training which promotes open and constructive communication and reduces problematic
communication between parents and adolescents. Participants are 190 parents (69.3% mothers),
whose mean age is 45.56 years. Results underlined a significant increase in open communication and
a decrease in problematic communication between parents and adolescents, after participation in the
parent training programme «Effective Parents in Adolescence». Moreover, parents reported an elevated
degree of satisfaction with the activities proposed, especially regarding trainer competence, perceived
social support and the exchange of experiences and comparison among parents.

Keywords
Parents, Adolescents, Communication, Parent Training.

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