The Effect of Education-Based Health Action Process Approach on Parenting Skills of Mothers with Girl Students in Mashhad

Introduction: Parenting is a complex activity, which includes special procedures and behaviors that affect the child's growth. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of educational intervention based on the health action process approach on the parenting skills of girl students’ mothers in Mashhad. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study conducted on 100 mothers (50test and 50control), who had 10-13 year-old girls. Mothers were selected using cluster sampling method. Data were collected by a questionnaire designed based on the health action process approach. The questionnaire also contained the demographic questions and its validity and reliable were completed before and 2months after the intervention. After completing the questionnaires, data were analyzed by SPSS 16 and descriptive (frequency, percentage, mean, and SD) and analytical tests (Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon) at the significance level of 0.05. Results: The Chi-square test showed no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of family size, mothers' age category, level of education, and job. The Mann-Whitney test showed that significant difference existed between the experimental and control groups before intervention) P=0.01Z=2.57( only with regard to action planning. Moreover, two months after the intervention, significant differences were observed between the two groups in all constructs. Conclusion: According to the results, the educational intervention based on the structures of the health action process approach can have a positive impact on mother's parenting skills.