Effect of Cognitive Behavior Group Therapy on Parenting Stress in Mothers of Children With Autism

Due to the various problems of children with autism, their families and especially their mothers become exposed to stress. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cognitive behavior group therapy on parenting stress of mothers of children with autism. The sample of this research consisted of sixteen mothers of children with autism. The measurement tools were the Abidin Parenting Stress questionnaire and a demographic questionnaire. The samples participated in seven sessions of cognitive behavior group therapy. The data were analyzed using the repeated measures test. The findings indicated significant differences between scores of pretest and posttest considering parenting stress (P = 0.03) and subscales of parenting distress (P = 0.01), yet there weren’t significant differences in the other subscales (P > 0.05). Cognitive behavior group therapy could be an important part of interventions used to decrease parenting stress of mothers of children with autism.