Comparing the Effectiveness of Mindful Parenting Training plus Parental Management Training (Combined Education) with Mindful Parenting Training and Parental Management Training alone on Reducing Externalized and Internalized Behavioral Problems of Children

Behavioral problems in childhood can have irreversible effects until adulthood. Therefore, conducting research on children's behavioral problems is important. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of mindful parenting training program plus parental management training (combined education) with mindful parenting training and parental management training alone on reducing externalized and internalized behavioral problems of children.

Methods and Materials: 

The present study was a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test and two-month follow-up with a control group. The statistical population included all preschool children in Kashmar in 2021-2022, from which 120 people were selected by purposive sampling and randomly assigned to four groups. All completed the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up questionnaires of the Achenbach and Rescorla (2001) Child Behavior Inventory. Finally, the data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance using SPSSV19 software.

The results showed that there was a significant difference in both variables of externalized and internalized behavioral problems between groups (P<0.01). This means that combined education (mindful parenting program with parental management training) was more effective in reducing externalized and internalized behavioral problems of preschool children compared to mindful parenting education and parental management training alone (P<0.05).

The findings of this study indicate that the combined education of mindful parenting and parental management training can reduce the externalized and internalized behavioral problems of preschool children and therefore the awareness of parents, teachers, counselors, psychologists and other professionals about these trainings can be reduced. Behavioral problems of preschool children are helpful.