The Triple P System of Evidence-Based Parenting Support: Past, Present, and Future Directions

Abstract

Triple P is an integrated, multi-level system of evidence-based parenting support designed to promote the well-being of children and families to reduce prevalence rates of social, emotional, and behavioral problems in children and adolescents and to prevent child maltreatment. The system developed gradually over four decades to address the complex needs of parents and children from diverse family, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. It blends universal and targeted programs, a focus on developing parental self-regulation capabilities, and adopts a life span perspective with a population health framework. The Triple P system is used as a case example to discuss the past, present and future challenges, and opportunities involved in developing, evaluating, adapting, scaling and maintaining a sustainable system of evidence-based parenting intervention. Seven stages of program development are outlined from initial theory building and development of the core parenting program through to the sustained deployment of the intervention system delivered at scale. The importance of ongoing research and evaluation is highlighted so that different programs within the system evolve and adapt to address the contemporary concerns and priorities of families in diverse cultural contexts. A well-trained workforce is essential to deliver evidence-based programs, in a need-responsive manner that blends both fidelity of delivery and flexibility and is tailored to respond to the needs of individual families and local context. Programs need to be gender-sensitive, culturally informed, and attuned to the local context including relevant policies, resources, cultural factors, funding, workforce availability and their capacity to implement programs.

Brief parenting intervention (Triple P) for families of children with eczema: a randomized controlled trial

“…Healthy Living Triple P is designed for parents of children with chronic health conditions. It comprises two, 2-hr group discussion sessions that draw on the theoretical principles underpinning the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program, including social learning, cognitive behavioral and developmental theory ( Sanders, 2023 ). It aims to increase parenting skills and confidence, parental self-regulation and use of effective parenting practices to support strong parent–child relationships and children’s emotional/behavioral adjustment.…”

The Commercial Determinants of Violence: Identifying Opportunities for Violence Prevention through a Public Health-Based Framework Analysis

“…Although relatively small in scale, some businesses advise on, develop, and implement programs aimed at reducing violence, which may increase awareness of violence and the capacity for prevention. Other commercial programs aim to support parents to reduce risks of child maltreatment and behavioral problems [ 92 ]. The extent of independent evidence on for-profit programs is contested, although they have stimulated the development of related non-profit interventions [ 93 ].…”

Lessons from the field. Toward evidence‐based parenting support to promote positive parenting in children's sport

“…Conclusions and implications: The codesign framework for the development of a parent program for rugby league produced a promising and well-accepted sports parenting program that warrants further trialing, and application to other junior sporting contexts. There is increasing international advocacy for evidence-based parenting support programs to be made more widely available to all families (Doyle et al, 2023;Sanders, 2023) and to increase the reach of programs that have been successfully delivered in a range of destigmatized community contexts (Sanders & Mazzucchelli, 2018). These include primary health-care settings, early childhood education settings, schools, workplace settings, through the media, and through selfguided online programs.…”