The role of fields of temperament and character, basic psychological needs and cognitive flexibility in psychology hardiness of autistic children's mothers

The present study investigates the role of the temperament and character traits, basic psychological needs and cognitive flexibility in psychological hardiness of autistic children's mothers in Ahvaz city. The method was descriptive-correctional. The statistical population were included of all mothers of children with autistic dysfunction in Ahvaz. A sample of 130 mothers were selected. The instruments were Ahwaz Hardiness Inventory, Temperament and Character Inventory, and basic psychological needs scale and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory. Data were analyzed by multiple regression and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results showed that there is significant and negative relation between harm avoidance and reward-dependence on hardiness and positive and significant relationship between other dimensions of temperament and character, basic psychological needs and psychological flexibility with psychological hardiness. The results showed that the temperament and character, novelty-seeking and self-transcendence predicted hardiness. Among the subscales, basic psychological needs predicted hardiness. From the cognitive flexibility components, the perception of the alternative solutions had the ability to predict firmness. Therefore, improving the communication, novelty-seeking and self-transcendence, competency and perception of the alternative solutions may enhance the psychological hardiness of mothers of children with autism and it may improve their welfare.