A Study of the Effectiveness of an Intervention Program Based on Social Cognitive Theory and Smith's Model of Health and Illness on Maternal Anxiety, Mother-Child Interaction Style and Children’s Behavioral Problems

This study has been conducted to determine the effect of a program based on social cognitive theory and Smith's model of health and illness on maternal anxiety and mother-child interaction style and children’s behavioral problems. The research method is quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest and control group design. The sample included 30 mothers with a moderate and high anxiety rate. The sample was selected using the Cattell Anxiety Scale and was randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group. The mothers in the experimental group underwent a weekly ten-session intervention program. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire, the Mother-Child Relationship Evaluation Scale (MCRES), the Conners Parent Rating Scale (of childhood behavior problems) and the Cattell Anxiety Scale. The tests were administered before the beginning of the program and immediately after its completion. Data analysis was carried out using multivariate analysis of covariance. The results revealed that anxiety, overprotectiveness and children’s problems had decreased in the experimental group after the intervention (P ≥ 0.01). Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the program based on social cognitive theory and Smith's model of health and illness was effective in decreasing maternal anxiety and overprotectiveness and children’s behavioral problems. Therefore, this intervention is recommended to be used in dealing with the problems in question.