Efficacy of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program on 0–12 year-old Quebec children's behavior. (June 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gagné, Marie-Hélène; Piché, Geneviève; Brunson, Liesette; Clément, Marie-Ève; Drapeau, Sylvie; Jean, Sarah-Maude
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 149(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-06
• Subjects: Child's behavior -- Parenting -- Triple P -- Program evaluation -- Evidence-based program; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Social work with youth -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Child Welfare -- Periodicals; Social Work -- Periodicals; Service social aux enfants -- Périodiques; Service social à la jeunesse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106946
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Highlights: This evaluation of the Triple P program used an active comparison group and considered the intervention dose. Triple P reduced children's externalizing behaviors, improved prosocial behavior, and reduced emotional symptoms. Except for children's emotional symptoms, care as usual was less effective than Triple P. Positive changes observed at post-test in the Triple P group were maintained over time, 2–4 years later. Abstract: This study evaluates the impact of the Triple P parenting support program (Primary Care and Group) on 0–12 year-old Quebec children's behavior. A quasi-experimental pretest – post-test design with an active care-as-usual comparison group was used examine program effects. A sample of 384 parents divided into two groups (n Triple P = 291; n comparison = 93) responded to four subscales of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, and prosocial behaviors. The dose of intervention received by each parent in terms of number of sessions was considered in the analyses. Results indicated that parents in the Triple P group reported larger improvements than parents in the comparison group with respect to conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, and prosocial behavior. Both groups reported similar moderate improvements on emotional symptoms. Intervention dose did not contribute to explaining these differences, beyond the nature of the intervention (Triple P vs care as usual). A follow-up of parents in the Triple P group two to four years after the end of the program (n follow-up = 164) suggested that the effects of Triple P are maintained over time. These results help to broaden the evidence base on the efficacy of this program in a sociocultural and linguistic context different from that in which it was developed.