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Cited by 59Family and Disability Support ResearchBehavioral and Psychological StudiesChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Systematic review and meta-analysis of stepping stones triple P for parents of children with disabilities

Ruane, AIlbhe, Carr, Alan·2019·Family Process
DOI 10.1111/famp.12352
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Abstract

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the effectiveness of Stepping Stones Triple P (SSTP) parent training programs on child behavior problems and parenting outcomes in families of children with developmental disabilities. Sixteen suitable studies including data from over 900 families were identified in a search for English language published and unpublished controlled outcome studies. SSTP has five levels on a graded continuum of increasing intensity targeting families with differing degrees of treatment need from low intensity media-based parenting information campaigns at level 1, through brief interventions at levels 2 and 3, to more intensive parent training and family therapy interventions at levels 4 and 5. Analyses were conducted on the combination of all levels of SSTP and separately for each level. For combined levels, significant overall effect sizes were found for parent-reported child problems (d = 0.46), researcher observed child behavior (d = 0.51), parenting style (d = 0.70), parenting satisfaction/self-efficacy (d = 0.44), parental adjustment (d = 0.27), and coparental relationship (d = 0.26), but not researcher-observed parent behavior. Strong support was found for level 4 SSTP as an effective intervention for improving child and parent outcomes in families of children with disabilities who have clinically significant problems. Less intensive SSTP interventions for cases with circumscribed difficulties yielded fewer significant treatment effects, and there were relatively few studies of such interventions.

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  • A meta-analysis by Ruane and Carr found a large effect of the behavioural parent program Stepping Stones Triple P on parenting style, moderate effects on parent-reported child problems, researcher observed child behaviour and parenting satisfaction and self-efficacy, as well as small effects on parental adjustment and parental relationship in families of children with developmental disabilities.

    “A meta-analysis by Ruane and Carr found a large effect of the behavioural parent program Stepping Stones Triple P on parenting style, moderate effects on parent-reported child problems, researcher observed child behaviour and parenting satisfaction and self-efficacy, as well as small effects on parental adjustment and parental relationship in families of children with developmental disabilities (3”

    From ProVIA-Kids - outcomes of an uncontrolled study on smartphone-based behaviour analysis for challenging behaviour in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities or autism spectrum disorder (2024) · cites this paper as [36]

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Authors
Ruane, A., & Carr, A.
Affiliations
University College Dublin (IE)
Corresponding author
Carr, Alan
ORCID
Carr, Alan
Venue
Family Process
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2018-03-09
Volume
58
Issue
1
Pages
232-246
ISSN
  • 0014-7370 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-5300
DOI
10.1111/famp.12352
OpenAlex
W2794169435
Cited by
59
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1
FWCI
0.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Family Process (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Health Service Executive, Ireland
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
Stepping Stones Triple P, parent training, children with developmental disabilities, child behavior problems, parenting styles, parental self-efficacy, parental adjustment, family therapy, parenting support
MeSH terms
Adult, Child, Child Behavior Disorders, Developmental Disabilities, Education, Nonprofessional, Family Therapy, Female, Humans, Male, Parent-Child Relations, Parents, Program Evaluation, Parenting, Children with Disabilities, Disabled Children

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