The Effectiveness of Parenting Education Based on Choice Theory on Parent-Child Relationship and Clinical Symptoms of oppositional defiant Disorder

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of parenting education based on choice theory on parent-child relationship and clinical symptoms of children with oppositional defiant disorder.

The research method is quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test and follow-up. It is a quasi-experimental research with pre-test, post-test and follow-up tests. 26 parents of students with oppositional defiant disorder referred to Psychological and Counseling Services along with their fathers and mothers were selected as the sample of the study using available sampling method and then were divided into two equal groups of thirteen. Their parents were randomly assigned to the following. The experimental group participated in the parenting training program and the control group received no intervention. The instruments used in this study are the parent-child communication questionnaire (1994) and the study of pediatric symptoms questionnaire (CSI-4).

Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. Findings showed that parenting training based on choice theory improved parent-child relationship and reduced clinical symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder (in oppositional and hyperactivity components) and had no significant effect on the components of accuracy and combined disorder.

Teaching parenting skills based on choice theory can lead to a stronger relationship with parents can reduce children's behavioral problems.