Effect of Training Positive Parenting Program on Mother-child Relationship among Mothers of Children with Externalizing Disorders

Abstract

Background: Externalizing disorders affect the pediatric psychosocial development and mother-child relationship. The quality of mother-child relationship has a pivotal role in formation of the social personality, cognitive function, and mental health of a child. Aim: Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of training positive parenting program (Triple P) on improvement of the mother-child relationship in mothers of children with externalizing disorders. Method: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 60 mothers of children with externalizing disorders, who referred to the children and adolescent psychiatric clinic of Ibn-e-Sina Hospital and Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2015. For the intervention group, Triple P was implemented as eight training sessions of 120 minutes during two months. The mother-child relationship was evaluated by Mother-Child Relationship Evaluation questionnaire. All the data were analyzed by SPSS using paired t-test, Wilcoxon test, and analysis of covariance. Results: In the pre-intervention phase, the two groups were homogeneous in terms of mother-child relationship aspects, including overprotection, radical underestimation, and child rejection. Immediately post-intervention, the mean scores of all mother-child relationship dimensions in the intervention group were significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). Concerning the acceptance item, the analysis of covariance test by eliminating the effect of pre-intervention score showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups after intervention (P<0.001). Implications for Practice: The Triple P training can lead in improved mother-child relationship in mothers of children with externalizing disorders. Consequently, this approach is recommended to promote the mother-child relationship.