The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment-based Parenting Training on Parenting Styles of Mothers with Mentally Retarded Children

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment-based parenting training on parenting styles of mothers with mentally retarded children. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental non-equivalent pretest-posttest control group study. The study population consisted of all the mothers of mentally retarded children attending exceptional elementary school in Bojnord between 2018 and 2019. Twenty-four volunteer mothers were selected and divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received acceptance and commitment-based parenting training, and the control group did not receive any training. The Baumrind Parenting Styles Questionnaire was used in this study. The data were analyzed by multivariate and univariate analysis of covariance. Findings: results showed that acceptance and commitment based parenting training increased authoritative parenting style and decreased permissive parenting style (p≤0/01). Moreover, acceptance and commitment-based parenting training did not have significant effect on authoritarian parenting style (p≥0/05). Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment-based parenting training can improve parenting styles of mothers with mentally retarded children.