Effects of the raising a thinking child workshop on children behavioral problems and parenting self-efficacy

The repeated incidence of behavioral problems in children may negatively affect their development or facilitate antisocial behaviors and crime in the long term, but problem is, whether these behaviors may influenced by controlling children’s environmental conditions.   This study examined the effects of teaching the Raising a Thinking Child (RTC) program to parents on parenting self-efficacy and children's behaviors. These programs are based on the interpersonal problem-solving approach. The research method was single group quasi-experimental with pre and post design.  To this end, samples of 64 parents (34 mothers and 21 fathers) of pre-school and elementary-school children were selected through convenience sampling. A workshop was held once a week for 9 two-hour sessions. Data collection instruments were Eyberg’s (1978) Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) and Dumka's Parenting Self-Agency Measure (PSAM). the findings confirmed the effects of the RTC program on behavior problems (0.01< p), however, this program did not significantly affect parenting self-efficacy. It can be concluded that, parents who can find effective problem-solving methods, evaluate a variety of interpersonal options, and reflect these options in their behaviors, raise children with better problem-solving skills.