The effectiveness of group schema-based parenting education to mothers on modifying maladaptive schemas of the child and improving the quality of the parent-child relationship

Objectives: This study examined the effectiveness of group schema-based parenting education on modifying the child's early maladaptive schemas and improving the quality of the parent-child relationship. Methods: The design of this research is quasi-experimental pretest-posttest with control group. The statistical population of this study includes all mothers and their daughters aged 8 to 10, in District 2 of Tehran, in 1399-1400. Among 65 mothers who announced their readiness to participate in the course by available sampling, 40 of them were selected according to the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to two groups of 20 people in experimental and control group. In this study, Schema Inventory for Children (by Rijkeboer & De Boo) and also the Parent-Child Relationship Scale (by Pinata) were used. The data of this study were analyzed by Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA). Results: Data analysis showed that parenting education had a significant effect on schemas of Vulnerability, Mistrust/ Abuse, Failure, Submission, Unrelenting standards/ Hyper criticalness, Self-sacrifice and Entitlement/ Grandiosity, but on the schemas of Loneliness, Defectiveness/ Shame, Enmeshment/ Undeveloped Self and Insufficient self-control/ Self-discipline had no significant effect. Data analysis also showed that parenting education has a significant effect on the subscales of closeness, dependence and total positive relationship, but has no significant effect on conflict. Conclusion: The present study shows that group schema-based parenting education to mothers is effective on modifying some of the early maladaptive schemas of children and improving the quality of the parent-child relationship.