The Effectiveness of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on the Intolerance of Uncertainty, Worry and Insomnia in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Aim and Illness and disability in children is a major source of distress for parents, especially mothers. It frequently endangers their health and well-being. Therefore, the aim of present study was to investigate the effectiveness of the acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on the intolerance of uncertainty, worry and insomnia in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder.
Methods and Materials: In a quasi-experimental study, with pre and posttest and control groups, 16 mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder were selected by available sampling method and then randomly designed into two experimental and control groups. The experimental group participated in 8 sessions of ACT, while the control group was not in any treatment. The participants completed Penn-State worry questionnaire (PSWQ), intolerance of uncertainty scale (IUS) and insomnia severity index (ISI). Data were analyzed by SPSS software, using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).
Findings: Intolerance of uncertainty (P = 0.001), worry (P = 0.001) and insomnia (P = 0.001) average scores in the experimental group were significantly decreased in comparison with the control group at post-treatment.
ACT might be an efficient way to decrease intolerance of uncertainty, worry and insomnia in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Also, therapists can use this therapeutic approach for improving intolerance of uncertainty, worry and insomnia in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder.