Effects of communication training on parents and young adolescents.

Two hundred fifty-eight middle school children and their parents attended communication skills training sessions for 6 weeks. Measures of satisfaction with the family system and communication of this group were compared with those of 201 young adolescents and parents who did not attend the sessions. Young adolescents, mothers, and fathers who were trained in communication skills reported increased satisfaction with the family system and open communication immediately and 6 months after training. Young adolescents who were not trained became increasingly dissatisfied with the family system. A subsample of families were observed resolving conflicts. Fathers and young adolescents who were in training used less antisocial and negative problem-solving techniques than those who were not trained. The authors cautiously recommend communication skill training as a "rite of passage" for families with young adolescents.