Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T17:12:14.391Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Harnessing the Power of Positive Parenting to Promote Wellbeing of Children, Parents and Communities Over a Lifetime

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2019

Matthew R. Sanders
Matthew R. Sanders*
Affiliation:
Parenting and Family Support Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Matthew R. Sanders, PhD, Parenting and Family Support Centre, The University of Queensland, 13 Upland Rd, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia. Email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Evidence-based parenting support (EBPS) programs derived from social learning theory, cognitive behavioural principles, and developmental theory are among the most successful innovations in the entire field of psychological intervention. EBPS programs have been at the cutting edge of global dissemination efforts to increase community access to evidence-based parenting programs. Despite the widely recognised success of these efforts, existing models of parenting intervention are not a panacea, and much can be done to improved outcomes. Efforts to improve outcomes have included the emergence of a population-based approach to increase reach of intervention. This has included the development of flexible delivery modalities, including online parenting interventions, the incorporation of strategies to enhance cultural relevance and acceptability of programs, and more recently, applications with parents in very low resource settings. Further enhancements of outcomes are likely to be forthcoming as we gain a better understanding of the mechanisms that explain positive intervention effects and non-response to interventions. More cost-effective online professional training models are needed to disseminate and promote the sustained use of EBPS programs. New interventions are required for the most vulnerable parents when parenting concerns are complicated by other problems such as trauma, addictions, relationship conflict, family violence, mental health problems and intergenerational poverty. However, to scale effective programs, Commonwealth and state government policies and funding priorities need to respond to evidence about what works and make sustained investments in the implementation of parenting programs. Possible strategies to enhance the policy impact of intervention research are discussed.

Keywords

parentingparenting supportparenting interventionprevention
Type
Invited Essay
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 36 , Issue 2 , June 2019 , pp. 56 - 74
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baker, S, Sanders, MR and Morawska, A (2017). Who uses online parenting support? A cross-sectional survey exploring australian parents’ internet use for parenting. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26, 916–927.Google Scholar
Beidas, RS and Kendall, PC (2010). Training therapists in evidence-based practice: A critical review of studies from a systems-contextual perspective. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 17, 1–30.Google Scholar
Bor, W, Sanders, MR and Markie-Dadds, C (2002). The effects of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program on preschool children with co-occurring disruptive behavior and attentional/hyperactive difficulties. Journal of abnormal child psychology, 30, 571–587.Google Scholar
Calam, R and Wittkowski, A (2017). Parents with serious mental health problems. In Sanders, MR and Mazzucchelli, TG (Eds.), The power of positive parenting: Transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P System (pp. 206–215). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Chowdhary, N, Anand, A, Dimidjian, S, Shinde, S, Weobong, B, Balaji, M … Araya, R (2016). The Healthy Activity Program lay counsellor delivered treatment for severe depression in India: Systematic development and randomised evaluation. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 208, 381–388.Google Scholar
Cobham, VE, Filus, A and Sanders, MR (2017). Working with parents to treat anxiety-disordered children: A proof of concept RCT evaluating Fear-less Triple P. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 95, 128–138.Google Scholar
Cobham, VE, McDermott, B and Sanders, MR (2017). Parenting support in the context of natural disasters. In Sanders, MR and Mazzucchelli, TG (Eds.), The power of positive parenting: Transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P System (pp. 272–283). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Day, JJ and Sanders, MR (2018). Do parents benefit from help when completing a self-guided parenting program online? A randomized controlled trial comparing Triple P Online with and without telephone support. Behavior Therapy, 49, 1020–1038.Google Scholar
Glazemakers, I and Deboutte, D (2013). Modifying the ‘Positive Parenting Program’ for parents with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 57, 616–626.Google Scholar
Felitti, VJ, Anda, RF, Nordenberg, D, Williamson, DF, Spitz, AM, Edwards, V and Marks, JS (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14, 245–258.Google Scholar
Gray, GR, Totsika, V and Lindsay, G (2018). Sustained effectiveness of evidence-based parenting programs after the research trial ends. Frontiers in Psycholology, 9, Article 2035. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02035Google Scholar
Haskett, ME, Armstrong, J, Neal, SC and Aldianto, K (2018). Perceptions of Triple P-Positive Parenting Program seminars among parents experiencing homelessness. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27, 1957–1967.Google Scholar
Healy, KL and Sanders, MR (2014). Randomized controlled trial of a family intervention for children bullied by peers. Behavior Therapy, 45, 760–777.Google Scholar
Healy, KL and Sanders, MR (2016). Antecedents of treatment resistant depression in children victimized by peers. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 28, 107–119. doi:10.1007/s10578-016-0658-zGoogle Scholar
Jones, SH, Jovanoska, J, Calam, R, Wainwright, LD, Vincent, H, Asar, O … Lobban, F (2017). Web-based integrated bipolar parenting intervention for parents with bipolar disorder: A randomised controlled pilot trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58, 1033–1041.Google Scholar
Keown, LJ, Sanders, MR, Franke, N and Shepherd, M (2018). Te Whānau Pou Toru: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a culturally adapted low-intensity variant of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program for Indigenous Māori families in New Zealand. Prevention Science, 19, 954–965.Google Scholar
Kirby, G, Sanders, MR and Hodges, J (2018). Alliance of Parents and Teachers Program. Brisbane, Australia: Parenting and Family Support Centre, The University of Queensland.Google Scholar
Kirby, JN and Sanders, MR (2012). Using consumer input to tailor evidence-based parenting interventions to the needs of grandparents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 21, 626–636.Google Scholar
Kirby, JN and Sanders, MR (2014). A randomized controlled trial evaluating a parenting program designed specifically for grandparents. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 52, 35–44.Google Scholar
Leach, P (2018). Transforming infant well being: Research, policy & practice for the first 1001 critical days. New York, NY: Routledge.Google Scholar
Love, SM, Sanders, MR, Turner, KMT, Maurange, M, Knott, T, Prinz, R … Ainsworth, AT (2016). Social media and gamification: Engaging vulnerable parents in an online evidence-based parenting program. Child Abuse and Neglect, 53, 95–107. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.10.031Google Scholar
McWilliam, J, Brown, J, Sanders, MR and Jones, L (2016). The Triple P implementation framework: The role of purveyors in the implementation and sustainability of evidence-based programs. Prevention Science, 17, 636–645.Google Scholar
Marmot, M and Bell, R (2012). Fair society, healthy lives. Public Health, 126(Suppl. 1), 4–10.Google Scholar
Mazzucchelli, TG and Sanders, MR (2010). Facilitating practitioner flexibility within evidence-based practice: Lessons from a system of parenting support. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 17, 238-252.Google Scholar
Mejia, A, Calam, R and Sanders, MR (2015). A pilot randomized controlled trial of a brief parenting intervention in low-resource settings in Panama. Prevention Science, 16, 707–717.Google Scholar
Metzler, CW, Sanders, MR, Rusby, JC and Crowley, RN (2012). Using consumer preference information to increase the reach and impact of media-based parenting interventions in a public health approach to parenting support. Behavior Therapy, 43, 257–270. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2011.05.004Google Scholar
Morawska, A, Adamson, M, Hinchliffe, K and Adams, T (2014). Hassle Free Mealtimes Triple P: A randomised controlled trial of a brief parenting group for childhood mealtime difficulties. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 53, 1–9.Google Scholar
Morawska, A, Mitchell, A, Burgess, S. and Fraser, J (2016). Effects of Triple P parenting intervention on child health outcomes for childhood asthma and eczema: Randomised controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 83, 35–44. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2016.06.001Google Scholar
Morawska, A, Mitchell, A, Burgess, S and Fraser, J (2017). Randomised controlled trial of Triple P for parents of children with asthma or eczema: Effects on parenting and child behaviour. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 85, 283–296. doi:10.1037/ccp0000177Google Scholar
Morawska, A and Sanders, MR (2009). An evaluation of a behavioural parenting intervention for parents of gifted children. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47, 463–470. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2009.02.008Google Scholar
Patterson, GR (1969). Behavioral techniques based upon social learning: An additional base for developing behavior modification technologies. In Franks, CM (Ed.), Behavior therapy: Appraisal and status (pp. 341–374). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Book Company.Google Scholar
Patterson, GR and Reid, JB (1984). Social interactional processes within the family: The study of the moment-by-moment family transactions in which human social development is imbedded. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 5, 237–262.Google Scholar
Prinz, RJ, Sanders, MR, Shapiro, CJ, Whitaker, DJ and Lutzker, JR (2009). Population-based prevention of child maltreatment: The U.S. Triple P System Population Trial. Prevention Science, 10, 1–12. doi:10.1007/s11121–009-0123-3.Google Scholar
Salmon, K, Dittman, C, Sanders, M, Burson, R and Hammington, J (2014). Does adding an emotion component enhance the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program?. Journal of Family Psychology, 28, 244–252.Google Scholar
Sanders, MR (2012). Development, evaluation, and multinational dissemination of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 8, 345–379.Google Scholar
Sanders, MR (2015). Management of conflict of interest in psychological research on parenting and family interventions. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24, 832–841. doi:10.1007/s10826-015-0127-5Google Scholar
Sanders, MR, Baker, S and Turner, KMT (2012). A randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of Triple P Online with parents of children with early onset conduct problems. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 50, 675–684. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2012.07.004Google Scholar
Sanders, MR, Burke, K, Prinz, RJ and Morawska, A (2017). Achieving population-level change through a system-contextual approach to supporting competent parenting. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 20, 36–44.Google Scholar
Sanders, MR and Glynn, EL (1981). Training parents in behavioral self-management: An analysis of generalization and maintenance effects. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 14, 223–237. doi:10.1901/jaba.1981.14-223Google Scholar
Sanders, MR, Higgins, D and Prinz, RJ (2018). A population approach to the prevention of child maltreatment: Rationale and implications for research, policy and practice. Family Matters, 100, 62–70.Google Scholar
Sanders, MR and Kirby, JN (2015). Surviving or thriving: Quality assurance mechanisms to promote innovation in the development of evidence-based parenting interventions. Prevention Science, 16, 421–431.Google Scholar
Sanders, MR and McFarland, M (2000). Treatment of depressed mothers with disruptive children: A controlled evaluation of cognitive behavioral family intervention. Behavior Therapy, 31, 89–112.Google Scholar
Sanders, MR and Mazzucchelli, TG (Eds.) (2018). The power of positive parenting: Transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P System. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Sanders, MR and Prinz, RJ (2018). Emergence of a population-based approach to evidence-based parenting support. In Sanders, MR and Mazzucchelli, TG (Eds.), The power of positive parenting: Transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P System (pp. 32–62). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Sanders, MR, Shepherd, RW, Cleghorn, G and Woolford, H (1994). The treatment of recurrent abdominal pain in children: A controlled comparison of cognitive-behavioral family intervention and standard pediatric care. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 306–314.Google Scholar
Sanders, MR, Stallman, HM and McHale, M (2011). Workplace Triple P: A controlled evaluation of a parenting intervention for working parents. Journal of Family Psychology, 25, 581–590.Google Scholar
Sanders, MR, Turner, KMT and Metzler, C (2019). Applying self-regulation principles in the delivery of parenting interventions. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. doi:10.1007/s10567-019-00287-z.Google Scholar
Sethi, S, Kerns, SE, Sanders, MR and Ralph, A (2014). The international dissemination of evidence-based parenting interventions: Impact on practitioner content and process self-efficacy. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 16, 126–137. doi: 10.1080/14623730.2014.917896Google Scholar
Siegel, D (2014). ‘Time-outs’ are hurting your child. Time Magazine. Retrieved from http://time.com/3404701/discipline-time-out-is-not-good/Google Scholar
Smith, GC, Hayslip, B Jr, Hancock, GR, Strieder, FH and Montoro-Rodriguez, J (2018). A randomized clinical trial of interventions for improving well-being in custodial grandfamilies. Journal of Family Psychology, 32, 816–827.Google Scholar
Stallman, HM and Sanders, MR (2014). A randomized controlled trial of Family Transitions Triple P: A group-administered parenting program to minimize the adverse effects of parental divorce on children. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 55, 33–48.Google Scholar
Tellegen, CL and Sanders, MR (2013). Stepping Stones Triple P-Positive Parenting Program for children with disability: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34, 1556–1571.Google Scholar
Turner, KMT, Hodge, LM, Forster, M and McIlduff, CD (2018). Working effectively with Indigenous families. In Sanders, MR and Mazzucchelli, TG (Eds.). The power of positive parenting: Transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P System (pp. 321–331). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Turner, KMT and Sanders, MR (2011). Triple P Online [interactive internet program]. Brisbane, Australia: Triple P International.Google Scholar
Turner, KM, Sanders, MR and Wall, CR (1994). Behavioural parent training versus dietary education in the treatment of children with persistent feeding difficulties. Behaviour Change, 11, 242–258.Google Scholar
Tsivos, ZL, Calam, R, Sanders, MR and Wittkowski, A (2015). A pilot randomised controlled trial to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the Baby Triple P Positive Parenting Programme in mothers with postnatal depression. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 20, 532–554.Google Scholar
Van Mechelen, K, Kessels, I, Simons, A and Glazemakers, I (2018). Do parents of children with metabolic diseases benefit from the Triple P–Positive Parenting Program? A pilot study. Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, 31. doi:10.1515/jpem-2018-0219.Google Scholar
Ward, C, Sanders, MR, Gardner, F, Mikton, C and Dawes, A (2015). Preventing child maltreatment in low-and middle-income countries: Parent support programs have the potential to buffer the effects of poverty. Child Abuse and Neglect, 54, 97–107.Google Scholar
West, F, Sanders, MR, Cleghorn, GJ and Davies, PS. (2010). Randomised clinical trial of a family-based lifestyle intervention for childhood obesity involving parents as the exclusive agents of change. Behavior Research Therapy, 48, 1170–1179. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2010.08.008 PMID: 20883981Google Scholar
Wilkinson, L (2018). Using social marketing strategies to enhance program reach. In Sanders, MR & Mazzucchelli, TG (Eds.), The power of positive parenting: Transforming the lives of children, parents and communities using the Triple P system (pp. 383–394). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar