A Randomized Controlled Trial of Family Transitions Triple P: A Group-Administered Parenting Program to Minimize the Adverse Effects of Parental Divorce on Children

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of Family Transitions Triple P (FTTP), a 12 session group-delivered positive parenting program designed to prevent adverse outcomes for children following parental divorce. Participants were 204 parents who were divorced less than two years. Parents were randomized into one of 3 conditions: FTTP-E with enhanced engagement, FTTP-S standard engagement, or waitlist control (WL). Interventions were delivered through community relationship centers by relationship counselors. Results showed that compared to the waitlist control condition parents in FTTP condition reported significantly greater reductions in child behavior problems and coercive parenting. There were no significant differences between the FTTP-E and FTTP-S conditions. At 12mth follow-up for both FTTP intervention groups there were sustained improvements in the levels of parental distress (depression, anxiety, stress and anger) and improvements in co-parent communication, and acrimony. Implications of findings are discussed.