The results and some of their implications are discussed in a paper published in the latest issue of research journal, Behavior Modification.

Lead researcher Dr Mingchun Guo said the findings were consistent with previous research showing Chinese parenting practices have changed as a result of major social and economic changes over the past four decades. In the past, there was a more apparent emphasis on authoritarian parenting and obedience, however more recent studies have found that Chinese parents, especially those in urban areas, are more focused on authoritative parenting. The latter encourages a more egalitarian two-way parent-child relationship, and being warmth-oriented rather than control-oriented toward children.

“As recent research has shown that Mainland Chinese parents endorse authoritative parenting, and this is positively related to children’s social and school adjustment, it is not surprising that Group Triple P had positive effects on a range of parent and child outcomes in this study,’’ said Dr Guo.

The trial found that Group Triple P:

-                      significantly improved dysfunctional parenting and parental adjustment;

-                      increased parents’ confidence;

-                      reduced child adjustment problems and

-                      improved parents' satisfaction with their child's academic performance

Parents were also more satisfied with their child’s academic performance and said children showed less problem behaviors related to learning. Children were included in some aspects of the research, and reported that their parents used more positive parenting practices after doing Group Triple P.

While the children’s academic results themselves were not linked to the trial, a recent 15-year follow-up study in Western Australia has indicated that children’s literacy and numeracy achievements benefited when their parents did Group Triple P during the pre-school years.

Dr Guo said that while more research was necessary, it appeared mainland Chinese parents could now be more inclined to accept and use parenting strategies from a Western-developed program.

You can read more about this world-first Chinese research on the University of Queensland’s Parenting and Family Support Centre Triple P blog.