Effectiveness of Self-compassion training on anxiety, stress and depression in mothers of children with Autism

Choosing a strategy to control anxiety, stress and depression in mothers of children with Autism is crucial. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of training programs based on self-compassion on anxiety, stress and depression in mothers of children with Autism. A quasi-experimental research design of pre-test - post-test and follow-up was used to answer the research questions in this study. The population consisted of all mothers of children with autism referred to Omid-Asr center in Tehran in 1395. The sample consisted of 24 mothers of level one children with autism which were recruited through a convenient method of sampling. The sample were randomly assigned into two groups each of them 12 mothers as the experimental group and 12 mothers as the control group. The experimental group trained for 8 sessions in the field of self-compassion and the control group was put on the waiting list for a shorter version of the intervention. To measure the level of anxiety, stress and depression in mothers 21-DASS scale was used and descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. The results of the data analysis of covariance analysis showed that self-compassion training had a significant impact in reducing anxiety, stress and depression in mothers of children with Autism (p≤ 0/001). Therefore, according to the results of the findings, self-compassion training as psychological intervention strategy in reducing anxiety, stress and depression in mothers of children with Autism has been effective