Many families attend parenting programmes wanting assistance for their children’s behaviour problems and also for managing sibling relationships but there has been little research in this area. The aim of this research project was to assess the effects of the Triple P Level Four Positive Parenting Programme on the quality of the sibling relationships and parent-child relationships with four families drawn from a large city in New Zealand. Direct observation, semi informal parent interviews, questionnaires, child interviews, and anecdotal dated and timed notes were used to assess if there were changes in the quality of target child/sibling and the parent-child-sibling relationship and interactions. The Triple P Programme appeared to be an effective intervention for three of the four families according to final parent interviews. However, analysis of the direct observations indicated inconsistent and varied effects between and within measures.

This study investigated the effectiveness of the Triple P Programme to reduce stealing behaviour in three preadolescent children. Using behavioural monitoring and self-report questionnaires, outcome measures included stealing behaviour, parenting practices, parenting efficacy, and parental mental health. A measure of change was also included to identify change points in the therapeutic process. Results suggest that parent training is effective in the reduction of stealing behaviours, as positive changes were found across all the measures employed. This early intervention has the potential to disrupt an antisocial developmental trajectory for children who steal. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.

Adolescence is a stage that brings about multiple developmental changes for an individual. Parents of adolescent children often find these changes challenging. Parenting programmes have been created however, to help alleviate some of these problems. The review of the literature in this article selects and reviews a few parenting programmes that focus on the adolescent population. The current study then focuses specifically on one in particular; Teen Triple P and its use with 4 families. The participants included were a community sample with identifiable, but non-diagnosable, behavioural problems between the ages of 12-13 years old. Using a triangulation method of results; including a multiple-baseline of behaviour monitoring, parental and youth self-reports, and an observational task, the current study evaluates the effectiveness of Teen Triple P. The results indicate that notable changes were observed and reported in young person and parental behaviour for three of the four families. The other family encountered a crisis prior to the measures being completed at post-intervention which may have influenced their findings. Conclusions regarding this study, limitations, and future focuses for research are also discussed.

This study investigated the effectiveness of the Triple P Programme to reduce stealing behaviour in three preadolescent children. Using behavioural monitoring and self-report questionnaires, outcome measures included stealing behaviour, parenting practices, parenting efficacy, and parental mental health. A measure of change was also included to identify change points in the therapeutic process. Results suggest that parent training is effective in the reduction of stealing behaviours, as positive changes were found across all the measures employed. This early intervention has the potential to disrupt an antisocial developmental trajectory for children who steal. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.

This study investigated the effectiveness of the Triple P Programme to reduce non-compliant behaviour in three solo father families. Using behavioural monitoring, observational coding, and self-report questionnaires, outcome measures included non-compliant behaviour, the quality of the parent-child relationship, parenting efficacy, parental mental health, and parenting practices. A measure of change was also included to identify change points in the therapeutic process. Results suggest that parent training is effective in the reduction of non-compliant behaviour, as positive changes were found across all the measures employed. This early intervention has the potential to increase child compliance with solo fathers, and contributes to the knowledge base about this under-reported population. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.

Youth offending is an issue that receives attention at many levels, and which crosses the already broad domains of justice, education, mental health and social services. The role of parents in the development of antisocial behaviour, and their responsibilities with regard to addressing the consequences of this, are controversial. This article reviews a selection of interventions for managing teenage behaviour, and specifically criminal offending. A trend emerges from this review whereby the most effective treatments for young offenders are those that achieve change within the family system, not just the young person. The current study examined the effect of implementing Group Teen Triple P, one of a suite of well established and effective behavioural parent training programmes, with the parents of teenagers who had been recently involved in offending. The group was a collaborative partnership between Presbyterian Support, a non-government organization, and Child, Youth and Family Services, the national, statutory provider of care and protection and youth justice services. The six participating families had previously been involved with one or both of these agencies. Participants completed questionnaires and interviews at three data collection points, and the researcher also took part in aspects of the intervention. The results indicate positive changes within some of the participating families, but are inconsistent due to the drop-out rate and the reluctance of participating parents to consistently implement the skills and strategies learned. This unexpected but nevertheless important finding necessitated further consideration of the reasons why it occurred, and these are discussed in the context of earlier research into variables which influence attendance and adherence to parent training interventions. This study offers insights into the provision of behavioural parent training programmes with vulnerable, fragile or high-risk families.

This study investigated the effectiveness of the Triple P Programme to reduce non-compliant behaviour in three solo father families. Using behavioural monitoring, observational coding, and self-report questionnaires, outcome measures included non-compliant behaviour, the quality of the parent-child relationship, parenting efficacy, parental mental health, and parenting practices. A measure of change was also included to identify change points in the therapeutic process. Results suggest that parent training is effective in the reduction of non-compliant behaviour, as positive changes were found across all the measures employed. This early intervention has the potential to increase child compliance with solo fathers, and contributes to the knowledge base about this under-reported population. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.

This thesis investigated the views, opinions and experiences of children, young people and parents of mental health services and Triple P parent training using qualitative methods. It is divided into four separate papers, the first three written as standalone journal papers. Paper 1 is a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative studies exploring children’s views and opinions of mental health services. The review used specific databases, a search of qualitative journals and a general Internet search to identify relevant studies. The paper utilized inclusion/exclusion criteria and a quality appraisal assessment. Fifteen studies meeting inclusion and quality criteria were identified exploring the experiences of 378 children and young people aged between 5 and 16 years, from a range of countries. The review then involved synthesising the findings of these studies to generate several overarching themes. Themes that emerged were; the stigma of mental health difficulties; alliance making and breaking properties; the physical location of services; consent and confidentiality; preferences for creative therapies and a recognition of therapeutic stages. Paper 2 is an original research study that explored the experiences of parents of Triple P parent training. Eight parents were interviewed using a semi-structured protocol. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Emergent themes were; a search for a cause; the stigma of parenting difficulties; the destruction and recreation of family life and a shift in perspective. Paper 3 explores the views and opinions of children whose parents have recently undertaken Triple P parent training. This qualitative study used ‘In My Shoes’, a computer assisted interview tool, to explore the experiences of eleven children from England aged between five and sixteen years. Children’s data were analysed using Thematic Analysis. Children’s themes were; a search for a cause; changes in life brought about by Triple P and wider difficult life circumstances. Parents and children’s narratives broadly agreed though children talked about being smacked before Triple P and parents did not comment about chastisement. The final section of the thesis was a critical appraisal of the literature review, research study and research process as a whole, including methodological reflections, implications for future research and clinical practice, and the researcher’s personal reflections in undertaking the research.

Behavioural and emotional problems in children have been linked with a number of deleterious effects for the child, their family and the community at large. Research has demonstrated that targeting parents through behavioural family interventions is an effective way of ameliorating the negative long term effects of early behaviour problems. A number of evidence-based interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing dysfunctional parenting practices and reducing the severity and intensity of behaviour problems however less than 10% of parents’ access parenting services and even fewer access evidence-based interventions. Some researchers now advocate that a population approach that emphasizes prevention rather than treatment and considers parenting in its broader ecological context is required to increase parental access to evidence-based parenting interventions and reduce population levels of disruptive behaviour problems. One important context that affects parenting is the workplace. Changing economic and demographic climates mean the majority of parents are now employed and must balance the competing demands of work and family commitments leading to increased levels of work and family conflict as functioning in one domain invariably effects functioning in the other. High levels of work and family conflict have been shown to increase psychological distress and dysfunctional parenting and are associated with a range of negative organisational outcomes such as increased turnover and absenteeism. Additionally, levels of work and family conflict are highest in parents of young children indicating that balancing work and parenting is particularly difficult at a point in a child’s life where there is greatest development plasticity. This thesis argues that one way to improve parents’ access to services and to reduce work and family conflict is to provide support to working parents in the form of a workplace parenting intervention. Such an intervention has the potential to ease the burden on working parents, increase parental access to evidence-based parenting support and reduce population levels of disruptive behaviour problems. This research comprises of a randomised controlled trial of Workplace Triple P, a variant of Triple P- Positive Parenting Program that is tailored to the specific needs of working parents. Two studies are presented. Study 1 examined the utility of a model that posits that the relationship between parental exposure to disruptive behaviour problems and occupational stress is mediated by family-work conflict. Data analyses supported the hypothesised model. The relationship between parental exposure to disruptive behaviour problems and occupational stress was fully mediated by family-work conflict. The results of this study provide a rationale for examining parenting in a workplace context by demonstrating that disruptive behaviour problems in the children of employees are related to higher levels of occupational stress and that reducing disruptive behaviour and family-work conflict should result in reductions in occupational stress. Study 2 built on the findings of Study 1 by evaluating the effectiveness of Workplace Triple P, a workplace parenting intervention that aims to assist parents to more effectively manage work and family demands. Using a sample of teachers balancing work and parenting commitments, a randomised controlled trial was conducted comparing Workplace Triple P to a waitlist control condition. Results indicated that participants who completed the Workplace Triple P intervention reported improvements in five key outcome areas: disruptive behaviour problems, parenting style and satisfaction, personal adjustment, work and family conflict and occupational wellbeing. Specifically, compared with participants in the waitlist control condition participants in the intervention condition reported that their child displayed lower numbers of disruptive behaviours and engaged in problem behaviour less frequently, that they themselves engaged less in verbose, over-reactive and lax parenting styles, that they felt more confident in dealing with a range of behaviour problems across a range of home and community settings and enjoyed parenting more. Participants in the intervention condition also reported lower levels of personal anxiety and depression. The intervention was also effective at improving work-related variables. Participants who completed the Workplace Triple P intervention reported lower levels of work-family conflict, family-work conflict and occupational stress, as well as reporting increased levels of occupational efficacy. No changes were reported for participants in the waitlist control condition. Participants in the intervention condition were reassessed at 4-months post intervention. Results indicated that all intervention gains were maintained. Together these studies contribute significantly to our understanding of work-family interface by providing insight into the mechanisms by which family life exerts an influence on occupational stress and by demonstrating that a workplace parenting intervention has the potential to improve functioning both family and occupational domains. The findings have significant implications for assisting parents more effectively manage work and family demands, for increasing parental access to services, and informing family-friendly policies and practices. Research, clinical and policy implications are discussed.

This thesis considers parental psychological well-being and the acceptability of parenting support for those who have an adolescent with type one diabetes (T1D). Within the literature it is acknowledged that T1D diagnosis and management can have an effect on all family members. Furthermore poor parental well-being can impact negatively on adolescent well-being. It is therefore important to understand parental well-being in the context of adolescent T1D. Paper one presents a literature review of the psychological status of parents of adolescents with T1D. The review highlighted that adolescent T1D diagnosis has the potential to impact on parental psychological well-being, with some parents experiencing clinically concerning symptoms of anxiety, depression or psychological distress at different time points during their adolescent’s chronic illness. Over recent years it has increasingly been recognised that psychosocial variables can impact on physical well-being and illness management. It is important that individuals who experience distress are offered appropriate support. With regard to families and parents, psychological support may be offered through parenting interventions. Paper two aimed to explore whether Teen Triple P Positive Parenting Programme resources were acceptable to parents of adolescents with T1D and whether they would be interested in undertaking a parenting intervention. It also explored whether adolescent behaviour difficulties, parental psychological distress or diabetes-related family conflict were related to parents’ acceptability ratings and intentions to participate. Diabetes factors, such as time since diagnosis and levels of blood glucose control were also considered. The results indicated that the Teen Triple P resources have the potential to be acceptable to parents and that they would be interested in participating in a parenting intervention if one was available to them. The critical reflection considers both the literature review and the scientific study. Within this paper the approaches used, the challenges encountered, and the implications for clinical practice, and future research, are considered.