Empowering Exceptional Children

Empowering Exceptional Children

Comparative Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Supportive Parenting on Fear of Harm and Assertiveness in Elementary School Children

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Parisa Aghamohamadi 1
Mojtaba Amirimajd 2
Jafar Pouyamanesh 3
Fatemeh Alijani 3
1 PhD Candidate, Department of Psychology, Ab. C, Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Ab. C, Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Ab. C, Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran.
10.22034/ceciranj.2026.596971.2067
Abstract
The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and supportive parenting training on reducing fear of harm and increasing assertiveness in children. This applied study employed a quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest and a two-month follow-up, including two experimental groups and one control group. Among fifth and sixth-grade male students in Zanjan city during the year 2025, 45 participants were selected through multi-stage cluster sampling and randomly assigned to three groups (two experimental and one control). The experimental groups underwent supportive parenting and cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions over 12 and 14 sessions, respectively, while the control group received no intervention. The Gambrill and Richey Assertiveness Inventory was used to assess assertiveness levels, and the March et al. questionnaire was employed to measure the fear of harm variable. Additionally, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and SPSS version 23 were used to examine differences between groups. The findings indicated that both intervention methods significantly reduced fear of harm and increased assertiveness in children compared to the control group, and these effects remained stable up to two months post-intervention. However, no significant difference was observed between the two intervention groups regarding assertiveness and fear of harm variables across the examined time points. Overall, both approaches emphasize three common mechanisms: increasing self-efficacy, reducing avoidance, and exposure to feared situations, with the distinction that cognitive-behavioral therapy operates through cognitive restructuring and social skills training, while supportive parenting exerts its effects through modifying the social environment, enhancing attachment security, and positively reinforcing courageous behaviors. The similarity in effectiveness between the two methods facilitates choice based on family and child characteristics, enabling child and adolescent specialists to design more appropriate interventions tailored to clients' circumstances
Keywords
Anxiety
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Supportive Parenting
Assertiveness
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 11 February 2026
  • Revise Date 19 August 2026
  • Accept Date 21 August 2026