On Stepping Stones to Success

Dr Sanders (L), Judy Spence & Prof David Siddle

A world-renowned University of Queensland program that evolved from research into childhood behaviour has reached another important milestone.

Stepping Stones Triple P was launched in June and is being hailed as a landmark intervention program to assist parents of children with disabilities.

The program is an adaptation of the Centre's highly successful Triple P (Positive Parenting Program), a multi-level family intervention program for the prevention and treatment of behavioural and emotional problems in pre-adolescent children and follows on from the release of the Teen Triple P program launched last year.

"It is the first evidence-based program of its kind in the world and is designed to strengthen families' capacity to support their child and to help contribute to a balanced, meaningful and fulfilling life at home and in the community," said program co-author and researcher Professor Matt Sanders from the Parenting and Family Support Centre in the School of Psychology.

"It is widely recognised that children with disabilities are at greater risk of developing significant behavioural and emotional problems."

"Stepping Stones Triple P aims to assist parents develop practical solutions for common and potentially stressful behavioural and developmental challenges."

Professor Sanders said results indicated a significant reduction in challenging behaviours, parental stress, depression and anxiety as well as increased parental confidence and competence and marital satisfaction.

Triple P is a multi-level, parenting and family support strategy that aims to prevent severe behavioural, emotional and developmental problems in children by enhancing the knowledge, skills and confidence of parents.

The program was developed by Professor Sanders and colleagues from the Parenting and Family Support Centre.

Triple P has been developed through more than 20 years of clinical research trials.

The program is based on contemporary knowledge, has been well tested in international research and has been found useful by many parents.

"Studies show that family risk factors strongly influence children's development," Dr Sanders said.

Risk factors included harsh and inconsistent disciplinary practices, inadequate supervision and monitoring of children's behaviour, marital conflict and breakdown and a lack of a warm, positive parent-child relationship.

"We know that there is a significant reduction in parents' use of smacking and physical abuse towards children after they have been in the program," said Dr Sanders.

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