Enhancing Father Engagement and Interparental Teamwork in an Evidence-Based Parenting Intervention: A Randomized-Controlled Trial of Outcomes and Processes☆
Section snippets
Participants
Participants in the randomized-controlled trial were 42 mothers and 42 fathers recruited from the Auckland (New Zealand) urban area, with a child aged 3 to 8 years. The majority (93%) were the child’s biological father (age M = 39.87, SD = 5.95 years) and mother (age M = 37.82, SD = 5.29 years), with the remainder comprised of step-families (n = 2) or adoptive parents (n = 1). The children were 69% male (n = 29) with a mean age of 5.55 years (SD = 1.89) and were predominantly of New Zealand European descent (81%),
Statistical analysis
A series of ANCOVAs were used to examine differences between the intervention and control conditions at post-intervention using the pre-intervention scores on each measure as covariates. ANCOVAs were also used to analyze the between-condition effects at 6-month follow-up using the pre-intervention scores as covariates. Effect sizes were standardized differences, calculated by subtracting the pre- to post-intervention change in the control group from the pre- to post-intervention change in the
Discussion
This study examined the effectiveness of the Group Triple P Program that incorporated additional father-relevant content for fathers and mothers of children aged 3 to 8 years with elevated levels of conduct problems. As hypothesized, there were significant short-term intervention effects on father- and mother-reported child behavior, interparental conflict about child-rearing, dysfunctional parenting practices, and mothers’ parenting confidence. Improvements in father-reported parenting
Conflict of Interest Statement
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 Behavioural Sciences at UQ; and contributory authors. No author has any share or
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Funding assistance was provided by the Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust and the University of Auckland for the conduct of the research. Neither funding source had involvement in any aspects of the study or publication of the results.