The effectiveness of family resilience training on quality of life and mental health of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder

The autism spectrum disorder makes lots of tensions in family. The mothers of these children as main caregivers experience emotional challenges. But can the family resilience training be effective on quality of life and mental health of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder?

The aim of this study was determination of the effectiveness of family resilience training on quality of life and mental health of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder.

This research was quasi-experimental study with the design of pre-test-post-test with control group. The statistical population of the research were the mothers of autistic children, living in Tehran in 2018. From this population one sample of 20 persons by the available sampling method were selected and randomly assigned to two groups of experimental and control. Both groups gave pre-test and then experimental group received the family resilience training program in 9 sections but any intervention was not performed on control group. The instruments were the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Goldberg & Hiller Mental Health Questionnaire (1972).

The obtained data were analyzed by using multivariable analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). The result showed that family resilience training program was effective on the quality of life and mental health of mothers (P>0/05).

According to the finding of the present study, it can be concluded that family resilience training program can increase the quality of life and mental health of mothers of autistic children.