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Effectiveness of a group-based program for parents of children with dyslexia

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Abstract

Parents of children with dyslexia experience more parenting stress and depressive symptoms than other parents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a cognitive-behavioral group-based program for parents of dyslexic children on parenting stress levels, parent–child homework interactions and parental competencies. 39 children with dyslexia and their mothers were randomly assigned either to a cognitive-behavioral-therapy group or a waiting-list control group. The intervention lasted for 3 months. Mothers filled in the Parenting Stress Index and a paper–pencil questionnaire assessing dyslexia specific stress, conflicts in homework situations and competencies in dealing with dyslexia. Assessment took place before, immediately after, and 3 months following intervention. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed overall effectiveness of the program (partial η2 = .091), which can be mainly attributed to the reduction of parenting stress and dyslexia specific stress as well as an enhancement of parental competencies. Planned contrasts showed that effects could not be approved directly after the training but 3 months later, indicating a delayed effect. Future studies should examine program effects on mothers and fathers on the basis of a larger representative sample.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all children and mothers for participating in the diagnostics and parent training. We are grateful to the Günter Reimann-Dubbers Foundation of Heidelberg for funding the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Erfurt, Nordhäuser Str. 63, 99089, Erfurt, Germany

    Bettina Multhauf

  2. Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children’s Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Anke Buschmann

  3. Centre for Learning and Development, Kaiserstr. 36, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany

    Anke Buschmann

  4. University of Hildesheim, Universitätsplatz 1, 31141, Hildesheim, Germany

    Renate Soellner

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  1. Bettina Multhauf
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Multhauf, B., Buschmann, A. & Soellner, R. Effectiveness of a group-based program for parents of children with dyslexia. Read Writ 29, 1203–1223 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-016-9632-1

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