Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Gratitude Intervention on Mothers’ Self-Criticism and Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Problems

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student, Department of Psychology of People with Special Needs, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

2 Department of Psychology of People with Special Needs, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

10.22034/jmpr.2025.68335.6742

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a gratitude intervention on maternal self-criticism and emotional-behavioral problems in children in Isfahan. The present study was a semi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test design and a follow-up period. The statistical population in this study included all mothers of daughters with emotional and behavioral problems studying in schools in Isfahan. Purposefully and according to the inclusion criteria, 40 mothers of daughters with symptoms of emotional and behavioral problems in Isfahan, aged 9 to 11 years, were selected as the research sample and assigned to two experimental and control groups.Parents in the experimental group underwent a gratitude intervention in nine 90-minute sessions (two sessions per week). The control group received no intervention. The research instruments included the Child Behavior Checklist-Parent Form (2001) (CBCL) and the Levels of Self-Criticism Scale (LOSC). Data analysis was performed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with SPSS version 24. The results indicated that, for the components of internalized self-criticism, comparative self-criticism, and the total self-criticism score, the group variable, the time variable, and the interaction between time and group were all significant (P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, for the components of internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and the total emotional-behavioral problems score, the group variable, the time variable, and the interaction between time and group were also significant (P ≤ 0.05).The results indicate that the gratitude intervention can be used to improve maternal self-criticism and children's emotional-behavioral problems.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Modern Psychological Researches
Volume 20, Issue 80
January 2026
Pages 148-162

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History

  • Receive Date: 02 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 12 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 16 December 2025

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