The Effectiveness of Group Music Therapy on Parental Aggression Toward Children, Parenting Stress, and Parental Emotion Regulation

Abstract

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of group music therapy on parental aggression toward children, parenting stress, and parental emotion regulation in Tehran. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up phases including a control group. The statistical population consisted of parents in Tehran, from whom 45 participants were selected purposively and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=23) and a control group (n=22). Research instruments included the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Abidin’s Parenting Stress Index, and the Gross and John Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. The experimental group participated in eight 90-minute sessions of group music therapy, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-27. Results of repeated measures ANOVA indicated that the main effects of time, group, and the interaction effect of time×group were significant for parental aggression, parenting stress, and emotion regulation (p<0.001). Bonferroni post-hoc results showed significant differences between pre-test with post-test and follow-up in all variables, while differences between post-test and follow-up were not significant (p>0.05), indicating stability of the intervention effects. The findings suggest that group music therapy is an effective intervention for reducing parental aggression and parenting stress and enhancing emotion regulation, with relatively stable effects over time.