The effectiveness of attachment-based group parent training of mothers in reducing parental stress in mothers of preschoolers

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Shahid Beheshti University, Faculty of psycology, Tehran, Iran

2 Allameh Tabatabaii University, Faculty of psycology, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of attachment-based group training of mothers in reducing stress in mothers of preschool children.The study design was quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test, and follow-up with a control group. 260 mothers of 4 to 6 years old children were selected by random sampling from nursery schools of Tehran’s first and second districts, completed the Abidin’s Parenting Stress Index questionnaire (1990). Based on obtained scores on this scale and considering other including and excluding criteria, 31 mothers were finally selected as research sample and were assigned in experimental and control groups. Ghanbari’s Attachment-based Mothers’ Training Package (2013) was given to the experimental group during 8 weekly group sessions at nursery schools. After training sessions, and 2 months later, The Parenting Stress Index scale was completed by both groups and for analysis data used multivariate analysis of variance method. The results indicated that Attachment-based Mothers’ Training Package reduced the stress level of mothers in the experimental group, and the results of follow-up showed that these changes were stable over 2 months.

Keywords


Abidin, R. R. (1983). Parenting stress index_ manual. (3rd ed) university of Virginia.
Astora, J. B. (1991). Stress (new disease of civilization). Translation by: P, Dadsetan (2000). Tehran: Roshd. (Persion).
Bakermans- kranenburg, M. j., van Ijzendoorn, M, H., & Juffer, F. (2003). Less in more: meta- analyses of sensitivity and attachment intervention in early childhood. Psychological bullentin, 129, 195-215.
Ballen, N., Bernier, A., Moss, E., Tarablusy, G. M., & St-Laurent, D. (2010). insecure attachment states of mind and atypical caregiving behavior among foster mothers. journal of applied developmental psychology, 31, 181-125.
Barkley, R. A.(1998). Attention –deficit hyperactivity disorder: a handbook for diagnosis and treatment (2td ed).new york: Guilford press.
Barroso, N. E., Mendez, L., Graziano, P. A., & Bagner, D. M. (2018). Parenting stress through the lens of different clinical groups: A systematic review & meta-analysis. Journal of abnormal child psychology46(3), 449-461.
Berlin, L., Ziv, Y., Amaya-Jackson, L., & Greenberg, M. (2005). Enhancing early attachments: theory, research, intervention and policy. New york: Guilford.
Calkins, S. D., & Fox, N. A. (2002). Self- regulatory processes in early personality development: A multilevel approach to the study of childhood social withdrawal and aggression. Development and Psychopathology, 14, 477–498.
Cassidy, j shaver, P. R.)2008). Handbook of attachment second edition: theory, research, and clinical application. New York: Guilford press. 666-697.
Cassidy, J., Jones, J., & Shaver, P, R. (2013). Contributions of attachment theory and research: A framework  for future research, translation and policy. Development and Psychopathology, 25, 1415-1434.
Creasey, G. L., & Jarvis, P. A. (2003). Relationships between parenting stress and developmental functioning among 2 years- old. Journal of infant behavior and development, 17, 423- 429.
Crnic, K., & Low, C (2002). Everyday stresses and parenting. In: Bornstein M(ED). Handbook of parenting: practical issues in parenting 2nd edition, Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum associate : Washington DC.
Dabrowki, A., & Pisula, E. (2010). parenting stress and coping styles in mothers and father OF preschool children with autism and down syndrome. journal Intel disable, 54(3), 80-266.
Deater- Deckard, k. (2004). Parenting stress and child adjustment: some old hypotheses and new questions. Clinical psychology- science and practice, 5, 314-335.
Dubbs, J. L. (2008). Parent stress reduction through a psychosocial intervention for children diagnosed with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).
Goldstein, D. S. (1995). stress as a scientific idea: A homeostatic theory of stress and distress. Homeostasis in health and disease, 36, 177-215.
Juffer, F., Bakermans- kranenburg, M. J. & van Ijzendoorn, M. H. (2008). Promoting positive parenting: an attachment based intervention. London: Taylor & Francis group.
Kim, D. H., Kang, N. R., & Kwack, Y. S. (2019). Differences in parenting stress, parenting attitudes, and parents’ mental health according to parental adult attachment style. Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry30(1), 17.
Korja, R., Ahqvist- Bjorkroth, S., Savonlahti, E., Stolt, S., & et al. (2010). relations between maternal attachment representations and the quality of mother-infant interaction in preterm nd full term infants. Infant behavior and development, 33(3), 330-336.
Lionetti, F., Pastore, M., & Barone, L. (2015). Parenting stress: The roles of attachment states of mind and parenting alliance in the context of adoption. Parenting15(2), 75-91.
Mesman, J., Stolk, M. N., Van Zeijl, J., Alink, L. R. A., & et al. (2008). Extending the video- feedback intervention to sensitive discipline: the early prevention of antisocial behavior. In f. Juffer, F., Bakermans- kranenburg, M. J. van Ijzendoorn, M. H (Ed). Promoting positive parenting: an attachment based intervention. New york: Lawrence Erlbaum associates. 171-192.
Möller, E. L., Majdandžić, M., & Bögels, S. M. (2015). Parental anxiety, parenting behavior, and infant anxiety: Differential associations for fathers and mothers. Journal of Child and Family Studies24(9), 2626-2637.
Morgan, J., Robinson, D., & Aldrige, J. (2002). Parenting stress and externalizing child behavior. Child and family social work, 7, 219-225.
Neece, C.L., Green, S.A., Baker, B.L (2012). Parenting stress and child behavior problems: a transactional relationship across time. Am j intellect Dev Disabil, 117(1), 48- 66.
Tachibana, Y., Fukushima, A., Saito, H., Yoneyama, S., & et al. (2011). parenting stress and improve child cognitive abilities: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Plus one, 7, 1-14.
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Thomas, R. (2013). Maternal emotional distress, abuse risk, and children’s symptoms: child gender as a moderator of parent sensitivity as a mediator. Infant child developmental, 22, 480-500.