Comparing the effectiveness of parenting based on mindfulness with parenting based on the choice theory of psychological distress in mothers with children suffering from oppositional defiant disorder

The current study aimed to compare the effectiveness of parenting based on mindfulness with parenting based on choice theory on psychological distress in mothers with children with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
The research method was semi-experimental with a multi group pre-test-post-test design with a control group and 2-month follow-up course. The statistical population comprised of all mothers with 7-12-year-old children suffering from ODD in Tehran in 2022-2023. In the first stage, 45 mothers were selected using the available sampling method and then they were assigned in 2 experimental groups (15 people each) and a control group (15 people) in a simple random sampling. Then, the first experimental group underwent 8 90-minute parenting sessions based on mindfulness and the second experimental group underwent 12 90-minute parenting sessions based on choice theory; but the control group did not receive any intervention and remained on the waiting list. The rating scale of ODD by Hommersen et al. and the psychological distress scale by Kessler and Kessler et al. were used to collect information. The analysis of the information was done through SPSS version 24 software. The collected data were subjected to repeated measures variance analysis for statistical evaluation.
 At the conclusion of the study, both interventions had a significant effect on psychological distress in mothers in the post-test and follow-up phase compared to the control group (P<0.05). The results of Ben Feronia’s post hoc test showed that parenting based on mindfulness was more effective on mothers' psychological distress (P<0.05).
Based on the results of the present research, it can be said that parenting based on mindfulness has been more effective in reducing the psychological distress of mothers with children with ODD compared to the parenting of choice theory. It should be used as a suitable parenting method in counseling centers and psychological services, and this issue requires more research.