The Effectiveness of Acceptance-and-Commitment-Based Parenting Training on Mood and Anxiety in Children and Self-compassion in Parents

Depression and anxiety are common in children and a major cause of many illnesses and disabilities in this age group; Moreover, parents have the greatest impact on shaping the mental health and well-being of their children and there is a vast literature describing the importance of parenting factors in the development of depression and anxiety in children. 

We used the experimental research design in this study. The sample consisted of 34 children with depression and anxiety who were randomly allocated into ACT on parenting (intervention) and control groups via the randomization method. The intervention group received eight 2-h sessions weekly. The revised child anxiety and depression scale, parent short versions and the self-compassion scale were administered in both groups. The analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) and the repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to determine the difference between the intervention and control groups on depression, anxiety, and self-compassion. 

ANCOVA and repeated measures ANOVA results showed clinically significant changes in depression and anxiety in children and self-compassion in parents in the intervention group (P<0.001). The Mean±SD of depression in the intervention group was 16.50±0.89 at baseline, which significantly decreased to 2.94±3.27 at post-measure and 2.25±3.35 at follow-up (P<0.001). The Mean±SD of anxiety was 18.19±1.87, which significantly decreased to 7.63±4.34 at post-measure and 7.06±4.52 at follow-up (P<0.001). Additionally, the mean and SD score of self-compassion was 56.43±3.14 in pre-intervention, which significantly improved to 97.18±3.72 in post-intervention and 98.25±4.76 at follow-up (P<0.001).

The results show that ACT-based parenting is an effective treatment for depression and anxiety in children. This method also improves self-compassion in parents.