Behavioral training for parents of mentally retarded children: prediction of outcome.

Prediction models for outcome of behavioral parent training were developed. Forty-nine families completed a training program for parents of mentally retarded children and were followed-up 14 months later. The outcome variables were the mother's posttraining knowledge of behavioral principles and follow-through programming. Predictor variables included parents' socioeconomic status, education, pretraining experience, performance during training, and child characteristics. The relationships between predictor and outcome variables were utilized in discriminant analyses to yield prediction formulae. The accuracy of predictions and their clinical implications were discussed.