Behavioral Modification Methods and Maternal Parenting Styles among Mothers with Hearing-Impaired Children

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of behavioral parent training of mothers with severe deaf children, on enhancing maternal parenting style. Method: The research design was an experimental study with a pre-test, post-test and a control group. The research population included all mothers with severe hearing loss children. So, 24 mothers whose children had the most severe hearing loss were selected as the main sample in the academic year of 2015 in Azna city, Iran. Then, they were placed into experimental and control groups after being matched based on age, educational level, and socioeconomic status. The research tool included the Child Behavior Checklist-Persian Version (CBCL) and the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ). The parental behavior training was performed in nine 90-minute sessions in the experimental group. The data were analyzed by multivariable analyze of covariance. Results: Findings revealed the effect of behavioral parental training on reducing authoritarian and permissive parenting styles of mothers with deaf children in the experimental group. Moreover, behavioral parent training enhanced maternal authority parenting style score in the experimental group [P<0.05]. Conclusion: Behavioral parent training is important in decreasing negative parenting styles and in enhancing positive interaction between parents and deaf children.