The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment-Based Parenting Training on Quality of Life, Acceptance and Action, and Distress Tolerance in Mothers of Second-Grade Elementary School Children
Keywords:
Parenting education, acceptance and commitment, quality of life, acceptance and action, comprehensive distress toleranceAbstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment-based parenting training on quality of life, acceptance and action, and distress tolerance in mothers of second-grade elementary school children. Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest-posttest control group design with a two-month follow-up. The statistical population included mothers of second-grade students in Isfahan in the 2023–2024 academic year. Thirty participants were selected using voluntary convenience sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). Data were collected using the WHOQOL-BREF, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), and the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). The intervention comprised eight weekly 90-minute sessions based on ACT principles. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Findings: The results showed that ACT-based parenting training significantly improved the quality of life and distress tolerance scores while reducing acceptance and action scores (indicating enhanced psychological flexibility) in the experimental group compared to the control group. Significant time × group interaction effects were observed for all three variables across pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages, indicating the sustained impact of the intervention over time. Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment-based parenting training effectively enhances psychological indicators such as quality of life, flexibility, and distress tolerance in mothers and may serve as a beneficial approach in parent training programs.
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