The effectiveness of an autonomy-supportive parenting intervention for enhancing maternal parenting skills and executive functioning among preschool-aged children: two preliminary studies

Autonomy-supportive parenting (ASP) is strongly associated with executive functioning (EF) among preschool-aged children, as the ASP helps these children control their thoughts, feelings, and behavior, thereby supporting goal achievement. However, only a limited number of ASP intervention studies have directly targeted EF enhancement for this age group, and the findings are still inconclusive. Herein, we investigated the impact of an ASP intervention on maternal parenting skills and EF among preschool-aged children. EF was measured via maternal perceptions and performance tests and comprises three dimensions: working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. Two preliminary studies were conducted: The first study examined feasibility and time-based changes among participants receiving the intervention, and the second study employed a randomized controlled trial design to evaluate the impact of the intervention by comparing intervention and waitlist control groups. In both studies, four 2-hour ASP training sessions were carried out, allowing mothers to engage deeply with the material and foster children's independence with respect to problem-solving and decision-making. Parenting behavior and children's EF were assessed at the pretest (1 week before intervention), posttest (1 week after intervention), and follow-up (12 weeks after the intervention). The results of these studies suggest that a more extensive intervention significantly enhances maternal skills and children's EF, thus highlighting the importance of tailored support in parenting practices for optimal child development and parenting skills.