The Effectiveness of a Cognitive Parenting Educational Package on Behavioural Management of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities & Physical Education, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Counseling, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran

3 Ph.D. Candidate in Psychology, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran.

10.48308/apsy.2026.242571.1940

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a cognitive parenting educational package on improving behavioral management among parents of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder  (ADHD).
Method: This study used a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest-follow-up structure. The study population consisted of parents of children diagnosed with ADHD who referred to Education counseling centers in Tehran. Thirty parents were purposively selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups  (n=15 each). The experimental group received twelve 45–60-minute sessions of the cognitive parenting program, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected at three points—pretest, posttest, and a five-month follow-up—and analyzed using repeated measures in SPSS-27. 
Results: The results revealed a significant improvement in behavioral management scores among the experimental group from pretest to posttest  (F  (2, 54) =58.93, p<.001, η²=0.81), and the improvement was maintained at follow-up. The time × group interaction was significant  (F  (2, 54) =42.65, p<.001), confirming that the observed changes were due to the intervention. Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons indicated significant differences between pretest and posttest  (p<.001) and between pretest and follow-up  (p<.001), demonstrating the stability of the treatment effects over time. 
Conclusion: The cognitive parenting educational package significantly enhanced parents’ cognitive and emotional regulation skills, resulting in sustained improvement in their ability to manage their children’s behavior. This culturally adaptable intervention can serve as an effective strategy for empowering families of children with ADHD.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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