Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training Program on Psychological and Physical Well-Being of Mothers of Children with Down Syndrome

Mothers of children with Down syndrome have difficult parenting experiences and are exposed to high levels of stress and psychological and physical consequences. These mothers' special education programs can help them to cope better with difficulties. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction program on the psychological and physical well-being of mothers of children with Down syndrome. This study was conducted with a quantitative approach and a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of all mothers of students with Down Syndrome in Mashhad exceptional schools in the academic year of 2018-2019 who were selected by single stage cluster sampling. Thirty mothers of these children who scored higher than 22 on the General Health Questionnaire were selected and randomly assigned into two groups of mindfulness training and control group. Mothers in the experimental group received 8 two-hour sessions of mindfulness training program and the control group did not receive any training. The research instruments were life satisfaction scales, positive and negative affect, depression-happiness and physical symptoms. The results of covariance analysis showed that mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy significantly increased physical and psychological well-being of mothers of children with Down syndrome (p < 0/05). Therefore, this program is a good intervention program for mothers of Down syndrome children and can be used in medical centers and special schools for these children