Effects of Parent Effectiveness Training Program on Family Communication and Flexibility of Korean Parents

This study examines the effects of an 8-week Parent Effective Training (PET) program on family communication and flexibility. Forty-two pairs of Korean parents were randomly assigned to either an experimental group that provided the PET program or a control group that did not offer the program. The two groups were compared on pre-, post-, and follow-up measures of PAC(Parent- Adolescent Communication), ENRICH(Enriching and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication and Happiness), and FACES(Family Adaptability Cohesion Evaluation Scale), while controlling for the effects of socio-demographic variables. Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significant improvements in family communication between parents and children and between the husband and the wife but no such improvements in family flexibility. These findings suggest that the PET program is a useful short-term tool for Korean parents wishing to enhance family communication.