The effectiveness of safe parenting skills training program on parenting practices of mothers of children with signs of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems Lahijan city

This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of safe parenting skills training program on parenting practices of mothers of children with signs of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems Lahijan city.

This is an experimental study with pretest-posttest control group. The study population consisted of all mothers of preschool children (6-year-old) in Lahijan city. The initial sample size included 120 mothers of preschool children who were selected randomly. Finally, 30 mothers of children with internalizing and externalizing problems were selected and randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (n = 15) and control group (n = 15). Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (parent and teacher form) (1991) as a screening tool and Bamyrand''s questionnaire on parenting style (1972) were used in this study. Safe parenting skills training program which was designed by Aliakbari Dehkordi and Alipour (1394) was implemented in the experimental group during 8 sessions. Data were analyzed using Multivariate analysis of Covariance data (MANCOVA).

The results showed that safe parenting skills training program impacts parenting style significantly (P0.01≥).

The results showed that safe parenting skills training programs improves authoritative parenting style and reduces strict parenting practices. Given the fact that parenting practices have a major role in providing mental health of children, using the safe parenting skills training program is recommended to mothers in order to manage safe relations with their children and to use positive parenting practices