The effectiveness of reality therapy on resilience in mothers with children afflicted by cancer

All children, usually, are affected by different illnesses during the period of infancy and childhood; however, some sicknesses such as cancer impose conditions that afflict the daily lives of children and their families. Since resiliency is the ability to be proactive and effective instead of being reactive and passive in response to stressful situations, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of reality therapy on resilience in mothers with children afflicted by cancer. For this purpose, in a semi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test, and control group design, 20 volunteer mothers of children with cancer, hospitalized in Haematology/Oncology ward, were selected through convenience sampling method and assigned to experimental and control groups (n = 10). The subjects in the experimental group received ten sessions of individual reality therapy. The control group received no intervention. Subjects in both groups were evaluated for resiliency before and after the intervention. The analysis of data using analysis of covariance showed that the impact of reality therapy on resilience in mothers was meaningful and significant. It seems that teaching reality therapy is effective on resilience in mothers of children diagnosed with cancer.