Abstract
Child guidance centers in Japan confirmed that, in 2002, 23,274 children had been victims of child abuse and neglect. Reports of maltreatment of children multiplied ten-fold between 1991 and 2002. The prevention of child abuse should be a crucial theme for all Japanese mental health professionals. The present article describes a pilot project in Kobe, Japan, aimed at preventing child abuse. The parent-training program developed by Boys Town USA (Common Sense Parenting) was replicated by the Kobe Boys Town staff for parents who abused their children. The training model is based on coercion theory and social learning theory. The results indicated that participants completed the program and had a reduced risk for child abuse, thus providing supporting evidence for the effectiveness of parent training in Japan. Taking account of the Japanese social context, implications of the findings for parent training were discussed.
