ANN ARBOR—Children with serious emotional disturbances behave better at home and school when their parents participate in support groups led by mental health professionals, a new study indicates.

“There is a stigma discussing child behavior problems with family and friends, but parents discussing these issues in a group with other parents facing similar experiences provides a structured, supportive environment,” said Mary Ruffolo, lead author of the study and associate professor of social work at the University of Michigan.

A parent-professional team leadership model for group intervention was evaluated for families of youths with emotional and behavioral problems. The study specifically looked at the S.E.E. model?support, empowerment and education group intervention.

Parents’ primary support typically has come from case managers, but not other families coping with the same problems, said Ruffolo, whose research focuses on mental health interventions with children, adolescents and their families and the mental health services system.

Parents who participated in S.E.E. group intervention reported high levels of satisfaction with the sessions, the research shows. In addition, they improved their parenting skills, in part, because they shared their experiences with their child with other parents. They did not feel alone in their situations and felt confident in their abilities, the study says.

The study also indicates that parents in the groups learned that the professional?s perspective was not always the best way to handle challenging situations with the children.

Although the findings demonstrated that professionals and parents can function successfully as partners in leading groups, this research did not have enough parent and professional leaders to factor the effects of race, gender, educational background or age on developing successful partnerships.

The study?funded by a National Institute of Mental Health grant?appears in the January issue of Social Work. Other authors include Mary Kuhn, a private practitioner in Syracuse, N.Y., and Mary Evans, a professor at the University of South Florida.

More information about RuffoloSchool of Social Work