Journal of Applied Psychological Research
Effectiveness of Parenting Training Based on Positivist Approach on Parenting Stress and Psychological Flexibility of Mothers of Children with Externalized Behavioral-Emotional Disorder
Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Counseling, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran.
2 Department of Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.
Abstract
The present research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of parenting training grounded in a positivist approach on parenting stress and psychological flexibility among mothers of children with externalized behavioral-emotional disorder. The current study employed a semi-experimental design featuring pre-test and post-test assessments, a control group, and a follow-up period of two months. The statistical population consisted of mothers of children diagnosed with externalized behavioral-emotional disorder who sought services at the education counseling center of Isfahan city during the 2022-2023 academic year. To conduct the present study, 35 mothers were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (18 mothers in the experimental group and 17 mothers in the control group). The mothers in the experimental group underwent ten sessions of a positivist approach to addressing parental stress over a period of ten weeks. The questionnaires utilized in this study comprised the Children and Adolescents Behavioral Inventory (CABI), the Parenting Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), and the cognitive flexibility inventory (CFI). The data from the study were examined using a mixed ANOVA approach conducted with SPSS-23 statistical software. The results indicated that the positivist approach to parenting stress significantly influenced both parenting stress (F=63.80; eta=0.66; p<0.001) and psychological flexibility (F=33.70; eta=0.50; p<0.001) among mothers of children with externalized behavioral-emotional disorders. According to the findings of the present study, parenting training grounded in a positivist approach can serve as an efficient method to reduce parenting stress and enhance behavioral flexibility among mothers of children with externalized behavioral-emotional disorders by utilizing techniques such as focusing on the present moment, minimizing excessive criticism, and promoting accountability.
Keywords
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Volume 16, Issue 4
December 2025Pages 253-269
- Receive Date: 10 March 2023
- Revise Date: 06 May 2023
- Accept Date: 03 June 2023
- First Publish Date: 19 October 2025
- Publish Date: 22 December 2025