Date of Award
12-2002
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Galen J. Alessi
Second Advisor
Dr. Kristal Ehrhardt
Third Advisor
Dr. Linda LeBlanc
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
The term "nonprescription" behavior therapies was first used by Rosen (1979) to describe behavioral interventions that could be totally self-administered without professional consultation. In his article, Rosen warned that empirical validation of self-help programs was needed. The present study examines the effectiveness of one such self-help program intended to help parents manage a minor pediatric feeding problem - "picky eating". "Picky Eating" (i.e., mild selectivity or selective eating) appears to be a common and relatively persistent feeding concern of otherwise typically developing children. Mild selectivity is usually regarded as a sub-clinical feeding problem. In the present study, five families with children 2-6 years old identified as "picky eaters" were asked to follow the suggestion in a self-help book for parents of "picky eaters" (the independent variable in the study). Results indicate that while all subjects reported that the self-help book was helpful enough to recommend the book to a close friend or family member (a rough measure of social validity) the symptom report data rarely reflected the sign data collected.
Recommended Citation
Smitham, Sean T., "Non-Prescriptive Behavior Therapy: Effectiveness of a Self-Help Book in Teaching Parents How to Manage Their Child’s “Picky Eating” Behavior" (2002). Masters Theses. 4686.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4686