Parents Plus parenting programme for parents of adolescents with intellectual disabilities: A cluster randomised controlled trial

ObjectiveThis study evaluated the effectiveness of the Parents Plus Special Needs (PPSN) programme, a seven-week parenting group intervention for parents of adolescents with intellectual disabilities. MethodIn a cluster randomised controlled trial, 24 intellectual disability services supporting families of adolescents with an intellectual disability were assigned to PPSN (12 services; 141 parents) or waitlist control group (12 services; 136 parents). Primary outcomes were parent-reported parenting practices, family adjustment, problem behaviours, emotional problems, and prosocial behaviours. Secondary outcomes were parental satisfaction, parental self-efficacy, and goal attainment. ResultsCompared to the waitlist group, participants in the PPSN group reported improvements in parenting practices, problem behaviours, parental satisfaction, parental self-efficacy and goal attainment, which were retained at 3-month follow-up. There were additional gains for family adjustment at follow-up. ConclusionThe PPSN is effective in improving parenting behaviour, family relationships, and problem behaviours in adolescents, but not in improving emotional difficulties.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Parents Plus Special Needs (PPSN) programme, a seven-week parenting group intervention for parents of adolescents with intellectual disabilities. The results showed that participants in the PPSN group reported improvements in parenting practices, problem behaviours, parental satisfaction, parental self-efficacy and goal attainment, which were retained at 3-month follow-up. There were additional gains for family adjustment at follow-up.