Effects of acceptance and commitment therapy on behavioral problems of children: mediating role of parental psychological flexibility and marriage quality

Abstract

Objective To explore the mechanism of parents' psychological flexibility and marriage quality on children's behavioral problems and to provide theoretical basis for the use of the acceptance and commitment therapy(ACT) to intervene children's behavioral problems. Methods Acceptance and action questionnaire-second edition(AAQ-Ⅱ), the cognitive fusion questionnaire (CFQ), the child behavior rating scale(CBRS), evaluating & nurturing relationship issues, communication, happiness(ENRICH) were used to investigate the parents of 310 pupils. Results (1)There were significant differences between father and mother in the total score of marriage(father(120.59±18.25) vs mother(129.65±21.61), P<0.01), the score of children and marriage(father(29.80±5.80) vs mother(33.26±6.14)), the score of communication between husband and wife(father(28.75±6.48) vs mother(31.56±7.23)), and the score of experiential avoidance(father(21.48±9.85) vs mother(18.48±9.40))and cognitive fusion scale (father (32.20±12.46) vs mother( 27.23±13.70))(P<0.05). (2)The experiential avoidance of parents, the cognitive fusion of parents, the total score of marriage and subscales were significantly related to children' s behavior problems (r=-0.35-0.81, P<0.05 or 0.01). (3) The quality of marriage played a part intermediary role in the relationship between the two aspects of parents' psychological flexibility (experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion) and children behavior problems.The mediating effect was 32% and 22.58% respectively. Conclusion The psychological flexibility of parents can not only directly affect the behavior problems of children, but also affect the behavior problems of children through the quality of marriage as an intermediary variable.It can provide a new theoretical basis and effective methods to intervene and correct children behaviors problems. Key words: Psychological flexibility; Marital quality; Child behaviors problem