The Effectiveness of Brain-Based Parenting Training on Parenting Adaptability and Parenting Orientation in Mothers of Children Aged 6 to 10 Years with Anxiety Symptoms
Keywords:
Brain-based parenting, Parenting adaptability, Parenting orientation, Anxious children, Parenting interventionAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of brain-based parenting training on enhancing parenting adaptability and parenting orientation among mothers of children aged 6 to 10 years who exhibit anxiety symptoms.
Methods and Materials: The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest–follow-up structure and a non-equivalent control group. The statistical population consisted of all mothers of children with anxiety symptoms in Isfahan during the 2023–2024 academic year. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 40 mothers were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of brain-based parenting training, while the control group was placed on a waiting list. All participants completed the Parenting Adaptability Questionnaire (Yousefi, 2021) and the Parenting Orientation Questionnaire (Yousefi, 2021) at pretest, posttest, and a 45-day follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test in SPSS 26, with significance set at p < .05.
Findings: The results revealed significant time × group interaction effects for both parenting adaptability (F = 161.84, p < .001, η² = .850) and parenting orientation (F = 111.84, p < .001, η² = .797). Post hoc comparisons showed that the experimental group had significantly higher posttest and follow-up scores than the control group on both variables (p < .001). These findings indicate that brain-based parenting training produced sustained improvements in mothers’ adaptability and orientation.
Conclusion: Brain-based parenting training is an effective intervention for improving mothers’ parenting adaptability and orientation, which may contribute to reducing anxiety risk and fostering healthier parent–child relationships.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Elham Motovalibashi Naeini (Author); Zahra Yousefi (Corresponding Author); Mohsen Golparvar (Author)

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