Effectiveness of group education based on acceptance and commitment in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of education based on acceptance and commitment to self-concept and mother-child interaction in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders. The research method was a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The study's statistical population included 50 mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders whose children were receiving education and rehabilitation in special centers for autism in Tehran city in 2020. The sample size of ten mothers was selected by purposeful sampling. Mothers were randomly divided into experimental (n = 5) and control groups (n = 5). The instruments were the Rogers Self-Concept Scale (RSCE) and the Mother-Child Interaction Scale (MCRE). The experimental group received an acceptance and commitment-based group training intervention program for eight sessions of ninety minutes with fifteen minutes of rest time, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data analysis was performed by SPSS-24 software using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance. The results showed that the intervention program of group education based on acceptance and commitment had a significant effect on self-concept and mother-child interaction in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders, with an effect size of 0/341 for self-concept and effect sizes of 0/411, 0/445, 0/397, and 0/364 for the subscales of child acceptance, overprotection, overindulgence, and child rejection, respectively, on mother-child interaction (P< 0/01). The present study's findings indicated that this treatment program, with the teaching of appropriate principles, can be used as a suitable treatment method to improve self-concept and mother-child interaction in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders.