Rienecker, Kim-Maree (2015) An Evaluation of Engaging Adolescents: A Brief Parent-training Program for Parents of Teenagers. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
There is a clear recognition by policy makers and researchers that the cost of adolescent problem behaviour is high, and effective evidence-based parenting programs are needed and worth implementing. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of parenting programs in modifying risk and protective factors relating to teenage behaviour problems, particularly programs that are brief and can meet the needs of contemporary parents. This study examined the efficacy of Engaging Adolescents, a parent-training program that focuses on helping parents manage their child’s transition from late childhood to early adolescence. It is similar to the successful Teen Triple P – Positive Parenting Program for parents of adolescent aged children, however it has been designed to be more compact and delivered in a shorter time frame. This paper describes the initial evaluation of a trial of Engaging Adolescents in community settings in Mullumbimby and Toowoomba, Australia. Thirty-nine parents of adolescents participated in the research by completing a battery of self-report questionnaires at baseline and again at six weeks. Parents were allocated to either an intervention group (n = 26), or a waitlist control group (n = 13) who received the intervention at a later date. In this study the intervention was delivered in six hours, over two sessions. Participating parents were measured on well-established parenting risk factors of conflict with their teenager, laxness and overreactivity in parenting practices, attitude towards the parenting role and parental stress. Whilst this preliminary evaluation did not find statistically significant improvements, positive changes in the right direct were noted. Small to medium effect sizes were found on all variables, which indicates Engaging Adolescents may have promise in reducing targeted risk factors associated with the development of behavioural and emotional problems in teenagers. The paper concludes with an examination of possible limitations that may have impacted the study’s ability to find efficacy, such as issues around program delivery, parent recruitment, and the influence of external factors, which are crucial for the successful provision of effective and timely support for parents of teenagers.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | James Brown |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Aug 2025 00:51 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Aug 2025 00:51 |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52698 |
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