Effectiveness of the circle of security parenting program in reducing children’s behavioral challenges and parental stress, anxiety, and depression in a Saudi Arabian sample
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Attachment-based parenting programs have shown promise in strengthening parent-child relationships. Although some studies have examined their impact on parental and child mental health, evidence remains limited, particularly in non-Western contexts. To our knowledge, this is the first study to implement an Arabic version of the Circle of Security Parenting program to address this gap. METHODS: The potential effectiveness of the Circle of Security Parenting program among Saudi Arabian parents of children aged 2-5 years old was evaluated using a one-group pretest-posttest design. A total of 114 parents enrolled; however, only 41 participants who completed all eight sessions were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: Post-intervention scores indicated reductions in parent-reported child behavioral difficulties and improvements in parental stress, depression, and anxiety. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the Circle of Security Parenting program may be a promising attachment-based intervention for Saudi Arabian parents. Improvements in Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and Child Behavior Checklist scores from baseline to post-intervention highlight its potential utility. However, further research using controlled designs is needed to establish its effectiveness more robustly.
Source: BMC Public Health
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,290
OpenAlex ID: W4416554434