Developing a Family-Centered Eclectic Model and Comparing its Effectiveness with Parent-Child Interaction Therapy in Improving Parent-Child Relationship and Reducing Behavioral Problems in Children with Autism

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student of psychology, Department of Psychology, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran

2 Professor of psychology, Department of Psychology, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran

3 Associate Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran

4 Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran

5 Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: One of the new educational programs to reduce children's behavioral problems is the "eclectic family-centered" program. This study aimed to develop an eclectic family-centered model and compare its effectiveness with parent-child interaction therapy in reducing behavioral problems in children with autism.
Materials and Methods: The present study was applied in terms of purpose and experimental in terms of controlling variables with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population of this study included all children with autism spectrum disorders in Tehran Autism Medical Center located in Tehran. In this study, the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) was used and the statistical method of analysis of covariance with SPSS-25 software was used to analyze the data.
Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the mean of child behavioral problems in the eclectic family-centered model group compared to the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and the control group, meaning that the eclectic family-centered model was more effective in reducing children's behavioral problems.
Conclusion: As a result, the eclectic family-centered model can be considered as a more appropriate alternative in psychological interventions to reduce the behavioral problems of children with autism.

Keywords

Main Subjects