Abstract
Background
Conflict among siblings is linked with potentially lifelong social, cognitive, and behavioural problems. Parents of siblings play a crucial role in the development of both the positive and negative relationships of their children. Despite this, relatively few parenting programmes specifically address how to manage sibling relationships marked by elevated levels of conflict.
Methods
This article presents the rationale, protocol, and potential implications of a randomised controlled trial evaluating a tailored version of the Triple P‐Positive Parenting Program for managing sibling conflict. This body of research seeks to illustrate how an evidence‐based parenting intervention can be successfully deployed to reduce rates of sibling conflict while improving children's social, emotional, and behavioural problems and enhancing parent competence and confidence.
Conclusions
Although sibling conflict is among the most widely reported and frequently cited concerns for parents, this is the first time a Triple P intervention has been used to target sibling conflict directly. If the intervention is found to be effective, it is hypothesised that the availability of an evidence‐based parenting programme focusing on sibling conflict will be highly appealing to parents and help engender a further destigmatisation of the notion of parents seeking parenting support.
Funding: None.
Conflict of interest: The Triple P‐Positive Parenting Program is owned by the University of Queensland (UQ). The university, through its main technology transfer company UniQuest Pty Limited, has licensed Triple P International Pty Ltd to disseminate the programme worldwide. Royalties stemming from this dissemination activity are distributed to the Parenting and Family Support Centre, School of Psychology, UQ; Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences; and contributory authors. Matthew R. Sanders is the founder and an author on various Triple P programmes and a consultant to Triple P International. No author has any share or ownership in Triple P International Pty Ltd.
Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Request ID No. 365567).
Funding: None.
Conflict of interest: The Triple P‐Positive Parenting Program is owned by the University of Queensland (UQ). The university, through its main technology transfer company UniQuest Pty Limited, has licensed Triple P International Pty Ltd to disseminate the programme worldwide. Royalties stemming from this dissemination activity are distributed to the Parenting and Family Support Centre, School of Psychology, UQ; Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences; and contributory authors. Matthew R. Sanders is the founder and an author on various Triple P programmes and a consultant to Triple P International. No author has any share or ownership in Triple P International Pty Ltd.
Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Request ID No. 365567).
Acknowledgements
All authors assisted with the conceptualisation, drafting, and editing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Jinny Hong and Kathryne Phillis in helping prepare the information supporting the study protocol.
Notes
Funding: None.
Conflict of interest: The Triple P‐Positive Parenting Program is owned by the University of Queensland (UQ). The university, through its main technology transfer company UniQuest Pty Limited, has licensed Triple P International Pty Ltd to disseminate the programme worldwide. Royalties stemming from this dissemination activity are distributed to the Parenting and Family Support Centre, School of Psychology, UQ; Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences; and contributory authors. Matthew R. Sanders is the founder and an author on various Triple P programmes and a consultant to Triple P International. No author has any share or ownership in Triple P International Pty Ltd.
Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Request ID No. 365567).