The Effectiveness of a Home-Based Delivery of Triple P in High-Risk Families in Rural Areas

Objectives Triple P is a positive parenting intervention designed to improve parenting practices and enhance childhood outcomes. Triple P has shown positive effects in various prior studies; however, to date, no studies have examined the potential benefits of home-based Triple P when conducted with rural families with parents at high risk for child abuse. The aim of this study was to use archival data to examine the effects of Triple P on dysfunctional discipline and parental anger as well as child emotional/behavioral difficulties. In addition, the study sought to investigate the potential moderating effect of race/ethnicity in these outcomes. Methods Archival data were analyzed in this study. Data were originally collected using a pre- and post-treatment design. A racially and ethnically diverse sample of 171 caregivers was assessed using various self-report instruments before and immediately after receiving the manualized intervention. Results A repeated-measures design, with ethnicity examined as a moderating variable, was used to assess the differences in dysfunctional discipline, parental anger, and child emotional/behavioral difficulties prior to and immediately following Triple P services. Overall, participants evidenced significant decreases in scores following treatment. Additionally, some effects were moderated by race/ethnicity. Conclusion This study demonstrates the potential benefits of a home-based format of Triple P for decreasing dysfunctional parenting behaviors and problematic child behaviors in high-risk, rural families.