The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Based-Parenting Training on Mood and Anxiety in Children and Self-Compassion in Parents

Background: Depression and anxiety are common in children and a major cause of many illnesses and disabilities in these age groups, thus, research in this area should be intensified. Moreover, parents have the greatest impact on shaping the mental health and well-being of their children and there is vast literature describing the importance of parenting factors in the development of depression and anxiety in children. Therefore, further research to improve and apply new interventions of parenting such as acceptance and commitment therapy-based parenting, are needed to treat psychological issues in children and their parents. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy-based parenting on mood and anxiety in children and self-compassion in parents. Methods: In this study the experimental research method was used. The sample consisted of 34 children with depression and anxiety who were randomly allocated into acceptance and commitment therapy based on parenting and waitlist control groups by randomization method. The intervention group received 2-hours of eight weekly sessions.  Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scales, Parent Short Versions (RCADS-P-25) and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) were administered in both groups. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) and the repeated measures ANOVAs were administered to determine the difference between the intervention and control groups on depression, anxiety, and self-compassion.   Results: Analysis of covariance and repeated measures ANOVA results showed clinically significant changes in depression and anxiety in children and self-compassion in parents in the intervention group (P < .001). The mean and standard deviation (SD) score of depression in the intervention group was 16.50 (.89) at baseline, which significantly decreased to 2.94 (3.27) at post measure and 2.25 (3.35) at follow-up (P < .001). Moreover, the mean and standard deviation (SD) score of anxiety was 18.19 (1.87), which significantly decreased to 7.63 (4.34) at post measure and 7.06 (4.52) at follow-up (P < .001). Additionally, the mean and standard deviation (SD) score of self-compassion was 56.43 (3.14) in pre-intervention, which significantly improved to 97.18 (3.72) at post-intervention and 98.25 (4.76) at follow-up (P < .001). Conclusions: The results show that acceptance and commitment therapy-based parenting is an effective treatment for depression and anxiety in children, as well as improves self-compassion in their parents.