The effect of rational emotive parent education program on parents' irrational beliefs and parenting stress

The general aim of the current study was to examine whether The Rational Emotive Parent Education which was developed on the basis of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, on parents' irrational beliefs and decreasing the parenting stress. The sample of the study consisted of 4 fathers and 22 mothers whose children are at primary school. Among those participants, 2 fathers and 11 mothers were in the experimental group while other 2 fathers and 11 mothers were placed in the control group. Within the study process, Parenting Stress Index-4 (PSI) developed by Abidin (2012) was adapted into Turkish. The dependent variables of the study were the parents' irrational beliefs and stress levels. The parents' stress levels were evaluated by Parents Stress Index which was designed by the researcher. Also, parents' irrational beliefs were assessed by the Parent Irrational Beliefs Scale (PIBS) which was developed by Kaya and Hamamcı (2011). Prior to the study practices, the participants in the both groups were asked to complete PSI and PIBS. Following the pre-tests, a 7-session Rational Emotive Education Program was administered to the parents in the experimental group. There were no practices with the parents in the control group. The post-test measures were given in the following week after the termination of the sessions while monitoring measures were administered 1 and 3 months after termination of the sessions. The gathered data was analyzed by the use of 2 x 4 ANOVA. The study findings suggested that parental stress levels of the parents in the experimental group were found to be lower than the ones in the control group. Additionally, there was also seen a decrease in the number of their perfectionist beliefs related to parenthood roles and their unrealistic expectations on their children. According to the study findings, the Rational Emotive Parent Education Program which was developed by the researcher is found to be quiet effective in decreasing the parenting stress and irrational beliefs. Keyword: Family, Rational Emotive Education, parenting stress, parent's irrational beliefs.