Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences
Volume 25, Issue 3 (6-2026)
JRUMS 2026, 25(3): 225-238 |
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Ethics code: IR.ACECR.USC.REC.1404.203
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Demehri F, Sharifi Ardani H, Soltanifar F. The Efficacy of Competent Parenting on Fertility Attitudes, Academic Self-Efficacy, and Psychological Needs during Pregnancy among Second-Time Pregnant Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study. JRUMS 2026; 25 (3) :225-238
URL: http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-7940-en.html
URL: http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-7940-en.html
Science and Arts University
Keywords: Parenting, Attitudes toward fertility, Academic self-efficacy, Psychological needs, Pregnant Students
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The Efficacy of Competent Parenting on Fertility Attitudes, Academic Self-Efficacy, and Psychological Needs during Pregnancy among Second-Time Pregnant Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Farangis Demehri [1], Haniye Sharifi Ardani[2], Fatemeh Soltanifar[3]
Received: 25/02/26 Sent for Revision: 12/04/26 Received Revised Manuscript: 13/06/26 Accepted: 15/06/26
Background and Objectives: Competent parenting is one of the important factors in shaping attitudes toward fertility. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of competent parenting education on attitudes toward fertility and childbearing, academic self-efficacy, and psychological needs during pregnancy among second-time pregnant university students in Yazd.
Materials and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design. The population of this study consisted of pregnant students referring to health centers in Yazd in 2024; of them, 30 pregnant students (with second-time pregnancy experience) were included in the study using a convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to two experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The research instruments included the Attitudes toward Fertility and Childbearing Scale (AFCS; Söderberg et al., 2013), the College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (CASEF; Owen & Froman,
1998), the Standardized Scale of Psychological Needs during Pregnancy (PPNQ; Rezaei & Goodarzi, 2023), and a competent parenting program derived from the program developed by Louis et al. The intervention group underwent a 12-session parenting program., each lasting 120 minutes. The control group did not undergo any intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).
Results: The findings showed that by controlling the pre-test effect, there was a significant difference between the mean of post-test attitudes toward fertility and childbearing and academic self-efficacy in the two experimental and control groups (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in psychological needs during pregnancy (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The present study showed that group-based competent parenting was effective in improving attitudes toward childbearing among second-time pregnant students. Therefore, this educational program may potentially be used to encourage married university students to have children.
Keywords: Parenting, Attitudes toward fertility, Academic self-efficacy, Psychological needs, Pregnant Students
Funding: This study did not receive any funds.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical considerations: The Ethics Committee of Science and Culture University in Tehran approved the study (IR.ACECR.USC.1404.203).
Authors’ contributions:
- Conceptualization: Farangis Demehri
- Methodology: Fatemeh Soltanifar
- Data collection: Haniye Sharifi Ardani
- Formal analysis: Farangis Demehri, Fatemeh Soltanifar
- Supervision: Farangis Demehri
- Project administration: Farangis Demehri
- Writing – original draft: Haniye Sharifi Ardani
- Writing – review & editing: Farangis Demehri, Fatemeh Soltanifar
- Writing - review and editin
ORCID: 0000-0002-1451-0867
(Corresponding Author) Tel: (035) 38207180, E-mail: demehri@sau.ac.ir
Farangis Demehri [1], Haniye Sharifi Ardani[2], Fatemeh Soltanifar[3]
Received: 25/02/26 Sent for Revision: 12/04/26 Received Revised Manuscript: 13/06/26 Accepted: 15/06/26
Background and Objectives: Competent parenting is one of the important factors in shaping attitudes toward fertility. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of competent parenting education on attitudes toward fertility and childbearing, academic self-efficacy, and psychological needs during pregnancy among second-time pregnant university students in Yazd.
Materials and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design. The population of this study consisted of pregnant students referring to health centers in Yazd in 2024; of them, 30 pregnant students (with second-time pregnancy experience) were included in the study using a convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to two experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The research instruments included the Attitudes toward Fertility and Childbearing Scale (AFCS; Söderberg et al., 2013), the College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (CASEF; Owen & Froman,
1998), the Standardized Scale of Psychological Needs during Pregnancy (PPNQ; Rezaei & Goodarzi, 2023), and a competent parenting program derived from the program developed by Louis et al. The intervention group underwent a 12-session parenting program., each lasting 120 minutes. The control group did not undergo any intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).
Results: The findings showed that by controlling the pre-test effect, there was a significant difference between the mean of post-test attitudes toward fertility and childbearing and academic self-efficacy in the two experimental and control groups (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in psychological needs during pregnancy (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The present study showed that group-based competent parenting was effective in improving attitudes toward childbearing among second-time pregnant students. Therefore, this educational program may potentially be used to encourage married university students to have children.
Keywords: Parenting, Attitudes toward fertility, Academic self-efficacy, Psychological needs, Pregnant Students
Funding: This study did not receive any funds.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical considerations: The Ethics Committee of Science and Culture University in Tehran approved the study (IR.ACECR.USC.1404.203).
Authors’ contributions:
- Conceptualization: Farangis Demehri
- Methodology: Fatemeh Soltanifar
- Data collection: Haniye Sharifi Ardani
- Formal analysis: Farangis Demehri, Fatemeh Soltanifar
- Supervision: Farangis Demehri
- Project administration: Farangis Demehri
- Writing – original draft: Haniye Sharifi Ardani
- Writing – review & editing: Farangis Demehri, Fatemeh Soltanifar
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Citation: Demehri F, Sharifi Ardani H, Soltanifar F. The Effectiveness of Competent Parenting on Fertility Attitudes, Academic Self-Efficacy, and Psychological Needs during Pregnancy among Second-Time Pregnant Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2026; 25 (3): 225-38. doi: 10.66224/jrums.25.3.225. [Farsi].
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- Writing - review and editin
[1]- Assistant Prof. of Clinical Psychology, Dept.of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Science and Arts University, Yazd, Iran
ORCID: 0000-0002-1451-0867
(Corresponding Author) Tel: (035) 38207180, E-mail: demehri@sau.ac.ir
[2]- MA in General Psychology., Dept.of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Science and Arts University, Yazd, Iran
[3]- PhD Student in Psychology, Dept.of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Science and Arts University, Yazd, Iran
Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
Gynecology
Received: 2026/02/19 | Accepted: 2026/07/26 | Published: 2026/06/20
Received: 2026/02/19 | Accepted: 2026/07/26 | Published: 2026/06/20
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