Comparison of the Effectiveness of Parenting Education Based on the Strong Families and Positive Parenting Approaches on Loneliness Among 10- to 12-Year-Old Adolescents in Kerman

Maryam Salehyan; Mitra Kamyabi; Najmeh Hajipour Abaie; Alireza Manzari Tavakoli

Authors

Maryam Salehyan Department of educational sciences and psychology,Ke.c.,Islamic Azad University,Kerman,Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6831-5292
Mitra Kamyabi Department of educational sciences and psychology,Ke.c.,Islamic Azad University,Kerman,Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2572-7527
Najmeh Hajipour Abaie Department of educational sciences and psychology,Ke.c.,Islamic Azad University,Kerman,Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6111-6224
Alireza Manzari Tavakoli Department of educational sciences and psychology,Ke.c.,Islamic Azad University,Kerman,Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1573-7748

Keywords:

Strong Families, Positive Parenting, Loneliness, Adolescents, Parenting Education, Family Intervention

Abstract

Purpose: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of parenting education based on the Strong Families and Positive Parenting approaches in reducing loneliness among 10- to 12-year-old adolescents in Kerman.

Methods and Materials: This applied quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with two experimental groups and two corresponding control groups. The study population consisted of mothers of 10- to 12-year-old adolescents and their children in Kerman during the 2025–2026 academic year. A total of 96 mother–adolescent dyads were selected through convenience sampling and allocated to four groups of 24 dyads each: Strong Families experimental, Strong Families control, Positive Parenting experimental, and Positive Parenting control. The Strong Families intervention was delivered in seven weekly 60-minute sessions involving mothers, adolescents, and joint mother–adolescent activities, whereas the Positive Parenting intervention comprised seven weekly 60-minute sessions delivered only to mothers. Loneliness was assessed using the 20-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 26 using analysis of covariance and Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons, with pretest loneliness scores entered as the covariate.

Findings: After controlling for pretest loneliness, the effect of study group on posttest loneliness was statistically significant, F(3, 91) = 45.08, p < .001, partial η² = .598. Bonferroni comparisons showed that both the Strong Families intervention and Positive Parenting intervention significantly reduced adolescent loneliness compared with their corresponding control groups (p < .001). Furthermore, the Strong Families experimental group had significantly lower adjusted posttest loneliness scores than the Positive Parenting experimental group, with an adjusted mean difference of -3.84, p = .002. No significant difference was found between the two control groups, p = .917.

Conclusion: Both parenting education approaches were effective in reducing loneliness among early adolescents; however, the Strong Families approach demonstrated greater effectiveness, suggesting that family-centered interventions involving direct parent–adolescent participation may provide stronger benefits for reducing adolescent loneliness.

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