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Parent and Adolescent Effects of a Universal Group Program for the Parenting of Adolescents

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Abstract

There is growing support for the large-scale implementation of parenting programs for the prevention of child behavior disorders and child maltreatment in younger children. However, there is only limited evidence on the efficacy of parenting programs in modifying risk and protective factors relating to adolescent behavior problems. This study examined the efficacy of Group Teen Triple P (GTTP), an eight-session parenting program specifically designed for parents of young adolescents. Seventy-two families with adolescents aged between 12 and 15 years were randomly assigned to either GTTP (n = 35) or a care as usual (CAU) control condition (n = 37). Compared to CAU parents, parents who received GTTP reported significant improvements in parenting practices, parenting confidence, the quality of family relationships, and fewer adolescent problem behaviors at post-intervention. Several of the parent-reported effects were corroborated by reports from adolescents, including decreases in parent–adolescent conflict and increases in parental monitoring. Adolescents whose parents participated in GTTP also reported significantly fewer behavioral problems than adolescents in the CAU condition. Many of these improvements were maintained at 6-month follow-up.

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Conflict of Interest

The Triple P-Positive Parenting Program is owned by the University of Queensland (UQ). The university, through its main technology transfer company UniQuest Pty Limited, has licensed Triple P International Pty Ltd. to disseminate the program worldwide. Royalties stemming from this dissemination activity are distributed to the Parenting and Family Support Centre, School of Psychology, UQ, Faculty of Health and Behavioral Sciences at UQ, and contributory authors. No author has any share or ownership in Triple P International Pty Ltd. Matthew Sanders is the founder and an author on various Triple P programs and a consultant to Triple P International.

The rest of the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to Joanna Ting Wai Chu.

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This research was partially funded by the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand.

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Chu, J.T.W., Bullen, P., Farruggia, S.P. et al. Parent and Adolescent Effects of a Universal Group Program for the Parenting of Adolescents. Prev Sci 16, 609–620 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-014-0516-9

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