How participating in a group-based anger management program changed Japanese mothers’ cognition, attitude, and behavior: A pre-post pilot study

Keywords

Anger management, Child maltreatment, Mother, Children, Parent education, Pre-post pilot study

Abstract

Background

Excessive inappropriate expressions of anger is one of the most common forms of child maltreatment and can cause serious long-term physical and psychosocial damage to children. Helping parents with anger management is essential to prevent child maltreatment and mental health issues among children and parents.

Purpose

This pilot study aimed to investigate how participating in a group-based Anger Management Program for Parents (AMPP) may reduce mother-reported anger and change mothers’ cognition, attitudes, and behaviors.

Procedure

Fifty Japanese mothers with at least one child between the age of 4 and 12 years participated in three AMPP small group sessions (94% attendance). Participants self-reported changes using the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) at pre- and post-test (100% response) and at a two-month follow-up (90% response). The post-test and follow-up also included an original retrospective questionnaire to evaluate the AMPP's effects on participant cognition, attitudes, and behaviors.

Main findings

As a primary outcome, the participant STAXI anger-control significantly improved at post-test compared to pre-test. As secondary outcomes, participant STAXI trait anger, anger-out, and anger-control scores improved at post-test and follow-up. The original questionnaire showed that 96% of participants saw their anger more objectively and 92% had kind feelings for their child more at post-test. 87% hit their child less often at follow-up.

Conclusion

By participating in the AMPP, mothers developed better anger-control and experienced positive changes in their cognition, attitudes, and behaviors about anger and parenting. This short pilot program significantly improved the mother–child relationship and many changes were sustained at follow-up.

Original Publication Citation

Tobe, H., Soejima, T., Kita, S., Sato, I, Hart, C.H., & Emori, Y. (2022). How participating in a group-based anger management program changed Japanese mothers’ cognition, attitude, and behavior: A pre-post pilot study. Mental Health and Prevention, 25,1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhp.2021.200228

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2021

Publisher

Elsevier GmbH

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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