Group Stepping Stones Triple P for South Korean families of children with developmental disabilities: A pilot study

Abstract Background Children with developmental disabilities (CwDDs) present behavioral, emotional, and social challenges, thereby affecting family dynamics. While the Stepping Stones Triple P (SSTP) addresses these challenges, few studies have examined its feasibility and effectiveness in the South Korean context. Aims To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of the Level 4 Group SSTP for South Korean families of CwDDs. Methods and procedures The one-group, pre-post pilot study included eight parents of CwDDs who participated in six online group sessions and three individual telephone sessions, supplemented with a behavior-tracking mobile app. Data were collected at three time points to assess behavior problems, quality of life (QoL), parenting stress, efficacy, and parent-child relationships. Additionally, intervention satisfaction and usability of the mobile app were examined. Outcomes and results: Significant improvements in children’s behavior problems and QoL, parenting efficacy, positive parenting skills, and parent-child relationships were observed at the one-month follow-up. Participants reported high satisfaction with the intervention and offered enhancement recommendations. Conclusions and implications Group SSTP can effectively address behavioral issues in CwDDs and improve parenting practices. These findings underscore the applicability of Group SSTP for full-scale studies and applicability in healthcare and education settings to improve the QoL of CwDDs and their families.