Journal of Medical Council of Iran
Volume 44, Issue 1 (2026)
jmciri 2026, 44(1): 31-42 |
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Ethics code: IR.ACECR.USC.REC.1403.140
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Gholampour N, Pezeshk S, Saiedmanesh M, Demehri F. Design and Evaluation of a Mentalization-Based Parenting Program for Mothers on Social Anxiety in Adolescents in Yazd. jmciri 2026; 44 (1) :31-42
URL: http://jmciri.ir/article-1-3412-en.html
URL: http://jmciri.ir/article-1-3412-en.html
PhD Student in General Psychology, Department of Psychology, Science and Arts University, Yazd, Iran
Abstract: (127 Views)
Abstract
Background: Social anxiety is a common psychological disorder among adolescents, resulting from multiple factors including parental rejection, excessive parental control, and negative peer experiences. This condition can adversely affect adolescents’ social relationships, academic performance, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. Parents play a crucial role in regulating emotions and understanding the mental states of their children, making parental interventions a key factor in preventing or reducing social anxiety. Mentalization-based parent training has emerged as a promising approach to enhance parental reflective functioning, improve parent–child interactions, and support adolescents’ emotional and social development. However, prior studies have only partially examined its effectiveness, particularly in the Iranian context.
Methods: This semi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group to evaluate the impact of a mentalization-based training program for mothers. Participants included adolescents aged 12–15 years and their mothers in Yazd, Iran. Data were collected using the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents, the Child–Parent Relationship Scale, and the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire. The experimental group received fifteen weekly two-hour training sessions, while the control group received no intervention. A three-month follow-up was conducted to examine the sustainability of the effects. Data were analyzed using mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons.
Results: The results demonstrated that participation in the mentalization-based training program significantly reduced overall social anxiety and its cognitive and behavioral components in the experimental group (P<0.001), with these improvements remaining stable at the three-month follow-up. The effect sizes were large and meaningful (η²>0.2), indicating a substantial impact of the intervention. No significant changes were observed.
Conclusion: Mentalization-based parent training is an effective approach for reducing social anxiety among adolescents, while enhancing maternal reflective functioning and parent–child relationship quality. These findings emphasize the importance of parent-centered interventions that focus on parental mental processes, providing a sustainable pathway for improving adolescent psychosocial functioning, emotional well-being, and overall mental health.
Background: Social anxiety is a common psychological disorder among adolescents, resulting from multiple factors including parental rejection, excessive parental control, and negative peer experiences. This condition can adversely affect adolescents’ social relationships, academic performance, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. Parents play a crucial role in regulating emotions and understanding the mental states of their children, making parental interventions a key factor in preventing or reducing social anxiety. Mentalization-based parent training has emerged as a promising approach to enhance parental reflective functioning, improve parent–child interactions, and support adolescents’ emotional and social development. However, prior studies have only partially examined its effectiveness, particularly in the Iranian context.
Methods: This semi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group to evaluate the impact of a mentalization-based training program for mothers. Participants included adolescents aged 12–15 years and their mothers in Yazd, Iran. Data were collected using the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents, the Child–Parent Relationship Scale, and the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire. The experimental group received fifteen weekly two-hour training sessions, while the control group received no intervention. A three-month follow-up was conducted to examine the sustainability of the effects. Data were analyzed using mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons.
Results: The results demonstrated that participation in the mentalization-based training program significantly reduced overall social anxiety and its cognitive and behavioral components in the experimental group (P<0.001), with these improvements remaining stable at the three-month follow-up. The effect sizes were large and meaningful (η²>0.2), indicating a substantial impact of the intervention. No significant changes were observed.
Conclusion: Mentalization-based parent training is an effective approach for reducing social anxiety among adolescents, while enhancing maternal reflective functioning and parent–child relationship quality. These findings emphasize the importance of parent-centered interventions that focus on parental mental processes, providing a sustainable pathway for improving adolescent psychosocial functioning, emotional well-being, and overall mental health.
Type of Study: Research |
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