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Comparing the Effectiveness of Parent Management Training and Positive Psychology Parenting on Mentalization and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Psychology, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran

10.30476/smsj.2026.103097.1546

Abstract

Introduction: Anxiety disorders represents one of the leading causes of illness among adolescents, frequently resulting in clinical referrals to mental health services. Proper mentalization can prevent anxiety. Given that parenting styles significantly influence both mentalization and anxiety symptoms, this study aimed to compare the efficacy of parent management training (PMT) and positive psychology parenting (PPP) in enhancing mentalization and reducing anxiety symptoms among adolescent girls with anxiety.
Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group and a follow-up assessment was employed. The study population consisted of adolescent girls diagnosed with anxiety disorders who referred to psychological centers in Isfahan, Iran, in 2024, along with their mothers. A total of 60 mother–adolescent girls were randomly assigned to two experimental groups (PMT and PPP) and one control group. Pretest assessments were conducted prior to intervention. The primary instruments included the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (Fonagy et al., 2016) to assess mentalization and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1970) to measure anxiety symptoms. Mothers in the first experimental group received PMT, while those in the second group participated in PPP, both delivered over 12 weekly sessions of 90 minutes. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS software version 26. 
Results: Both PMT and PPP demonstrated significant positive effects on mentalization (η²=0.316), certainty (η²=0.513), uncertainty (η²=0.127), anxiety (η²=0.286), mood (η²=0.151), and trait anxiety (η²=0.251), all at P<0.01. The beneficial effects of both interventions were sustained over time, with persistent improvements observed across all variables except uncertainty, which showed no significant long-term change. 
Conclusion: Family and adolescent specialists could benefit from two approaches—parenting skills training and positive parenting education—to promote mental well-being and reduce adolescents' anxiety.

Keywords

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Available Online from 02 February 2026
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