Effectiveness of intervention based on acceptance and commitment on social perception, social support, cognitive flexibility and affective exchange in mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Cognitive Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Shahrood Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran.

3 Master of General Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran.

Abstract

 The aim of this study was to examine the Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Intervention on Perceived Social Support, Cognitive Flexibility, and Emotional exchange in mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study was semi-experimental with pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population includes 70 mothers and a random sample of 34 mothers with autistic children aged 5 to 8 years in the Autism Rehabilitation Center of Ayat city of Shahriar selected from the total population, randomly assigned in the control group (n=17) and the experiment group (n=17). Data were collected using Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Denis Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire (CFQ), and McMaster family assessment device  (Affective exchange) (CFI). The experiment group received acceptance and aommitment therapy for 9 sessions of 90 minutes twice a week. Data were analyzed by Multivariable Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) using SPSS23 software. The results showed significant differences between the components of affective exchange, perception of behavior justification, perception of control-ability, perception of substitutes for human behaviors, total cognitive flexibility, family support, friends’ support, other’s support, and total perceived social support  in the experimental group were higher (P≤0.05). The findings of the current research showed that acceptance and commitment therapy can be used to boost mental health level and cognitive/social components of mothers with autism spectrum disorder.                  

Keywords

References

Altiere, M. J., & von Kluge, S. (2009). Searching for acceptance: Challenges encountered while raising a child with autism. Journal of Intellectual and & Developmental Disability. 34(2), 142-152.‏
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM5®).Washington.
Baião, R., Fearon, P., Belsky, J., Baptista, J., Carneiro, A., Pinto, R., Nogueira, M., Oliveira, C., Soares, I & Mesquita, A. R.Baiao, R., Fearon, P., Belsky, J., Baptista, J., Carneiro, A., Pinto, R., & Mesquita, A. R. (2019). Child’s oxytocin response to mother-child interaction: The contribution of child genetics and maternal behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 102, 79-83.‏
Bazley, R., & Pakenham, K. (2018). Suicide prevention training for Christian faith-based organizations using acceptance and commitment therapy: a pilot controlled trial of the HOLLY program. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. 11, 6-14.‏
Biringen, Z., Derscheid, D., Vliegen, N., Closson, L., & Easterbrooks, M. A. (2014). Emotional availability (EA): Theoretical background, empirical research using the EA Scales, and clinical applications. Developmental Review. 34(2), 114-167.
Blackledge, J. T., & Hayes, S. C. (2006). Using acceptance and commitment training in the support of parents of children diagnosed with autism. Child and Family Behavior Therapy. 28(1), 1–18.
Bögels, S. M., Lehtonen, A., & Restifo, K. (2010). Mindful parentingin mental health care. Mindfulness. 1, 107–120.
Bruwer, B., Emsley, R., Kidd, M., Lochner, C., & Seedat, S. (2008). Psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in youth. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 49(2), 195-201.
Cervantes, P. E., Matson, J. L., Adams, H. L., Williams, L. W., Goldin, R. L., & Jang, J. (2013). Comparing social skill profiles of children with autism spectrum disorders versus children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Where the deficits lie. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 7(9), 1104-1110.‏
Del Barco, B. L., Castaño, E. F., del Río, M. I. P., & Bullón, F. F. (2015). Parental acceptance-rejection and profiles of victimization and ag-gression in bullying situations. Anales de Psicología/Annals of Psychology. 31(2), 600-606.‏
Dennis, J. P., & Vander Wal, J. S. (2010). The cognitive flexibility inventory: Instrument development and estimates of reliability and validity. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 34(3), 241-253.‏
Derguy, C., M’Bailara, K., Michel, G., Roux, S., & Bouvard, M. (2016). The need for an ecological approach to parental stress in autism spectrum disorders: the combined role of individual and environmental factors. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 46(6), 1895-1905.
Ekas, N. V., Pruitt, M. M., & McKay, E. (2016). Hope, social relations, and depressive symptoms in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 29-30, 8-18.‏
Epstein, N. B., Baldwin, L. M., & Bishop, D. S. (1983). The McMaster family assessment device. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. 9(2), 171-180.‏
Findler, L., Jacoby, A. K., & Gabis, L. (2016). Subjective happiness among mothers of children with disabilities: The role of stress, attachment, guilt and social support. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 55, 44-54.‏
Florian, V., & Findler, L. (2001). Mental health and marital adaptation among mothers of children with cerebral palsy. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 71(3), 358-367.‏
Flujas-Contreras, J. M., & Gómez, I. (2018). Improving flexible parenting with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A case study. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. 8, 29-35.‏
Goedeke, S., Shepherd, D., Landon, J., & Taylor, S. (2019). How perceived support relates to child autism symptoms and care-related stress in parents caring for a child with autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 60, 36-47.‏
Gould, E. R., Tarbox, J., & Coyne, L. (2018). Evaluating the effects of Acceptance and Commitment Training on the overt behavior of parents of children with autism. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. 7, 81-88.‏
Hahs, A. D., Dixon, M. R., & Paliliunas, D. (2019). Randomized controlled trial of a brief acceptance and commitment training for parents of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. 12, 154–159.
Hastings, R. P. (2002). Parental stress and behavior problems of children with developmental disability. Journal of Intellectual and & Developmental Disability. 27(3), 149–160.
Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J. B., Bond, F. W., Masuda, A., & Lillis, J. (2006). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Model, processes and outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 44(1), 1-25.‏
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2012).Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change. Guilford Press. implications for maternal mental health? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 40, 620–628.
Hollenstein, T., Tighe, A. B., & Lougheed, J. P. (2017). Emotional development in the context of mother–child relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology. 17, 140-144.
Ionescu, T. (2012). Exploring the nature of cognitive flexibility. New Ideas in Psychology. 30(2), 190-200.‏
Ip, H. H., Wong, S. W., Chan, D. F., Byrne, J., Li, C., Yuan, V. S., Lau, K. S. Y., & Wong, J. Y. (2018). Enhance emotional and social adaptation skills for children with autism spectrum disorder: A virtual reality enabled approach. Computers & Education. 117, 1-15.‏
Loukusa, S., Mäkinen, L., Kuusikko-Gauffin, S., Ebeling, H., & Leinonen, E. (2018). Assessing social-pragmatic inferencing skills in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Communication Disorders. 73, 91-105.‏
Lu, M., Yang, G., Skora, E., Wang, G., Cai, Y., Sun, Q., & Li, W. (2015). Self-esteem, social support, and life satisfaction in Chinese parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 17, 70-77.‏
Marsack, C. N., & Samuel, P. S. (2017). Mediating effects of social support on quality of life for parents of adults with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 47(8), 2378-2389.‏
Matson, J. L., Wilkins, J., Sharp, B., Knight, C., Sevin, J. A., & Boisjoli, J. A. (2009). Sensitivity and specificity of the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (BISCUIT): Validity and cutoff scores for autism and PDD-NOS in toddlers. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 3(4), 924-930.‏
Montgomery, D. (2015). The Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Parents of Children Diagnosed with Autism.‏ Ph.D. Dissertation. Faculty of Psychology, Walden University, USA.
Myers, B. J., Mackintosh, V. H., & Goin-Kochel, R. P. (2009). “My greatest joy and my greatest heart ache:” Parents’ own words on how having a child in the autism spectrum has affected their lives and their families’ lives. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 3(3), 670-684.‏
Paulus, M., Licata, M., Gniewosz, B., & Sodian, B. (2018). The impact of mother-child interaction quality and cognitive abilities on children’s self-concept and self-esteem. Cognitive Development. 48, 42-51.
Raftery-Helmer, J. N., Moore, P. S., Coyne, L., & Reed, K. P. (2016). Changing problematic parent–child interaction in child anxiety disorders: The promise of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. 5(1), 64-69.‏
Ritter, S. M., Damian, R. I., Simonton, D. K., van Baaren, R. B., Strick, M., Derks, J., & Dijksterhuis, A. (2012). Diversifying experiences enhance cognitive flexibility. Journal of experimental Experimental social Social psychologyPsychology. 48(4), 961-964.‏
Salami, A. R., Joukar, B., & Nikpour, R. (2009). Internet and communication: perceived social support and loneliness as antecedent variable. Psychological Studies. 5(3), 81-102.
Shi, Z. M., Lin, G. H., & Xie, Q. (2016). Effects of music therapy on mood, language, behavior, and social skills in children with autism: A meta-analysis. Chinese Nursing Research. 3(3), 137-141.
Wakefield, S., Roebuck, S., & Boyden, P. (2018). The evidence base of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in psychosis: A systematic review. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science.‏10, 1-13.‏
Waldeck, D., Tyndall, I., Riva, P., & Chmiel, N. (2017). How do we cope with ostracism? Psychological flexibility moderates the relationship between everyday ostracism experiences and psychological distress. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. 6(4), 425-432.
Weiss, L. A. (2011). The development of psychological flexibility in chronic pain patients during acceptance and commitment therapy: how do acceptance, values-based action and application of learned principles develop during an eight-week inpatient treatment in five patients?. Master's thesis, University of Twente.
Yadavaia, J. E., & Hayes,  S. C. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy for self-stigma around sexual orientation: A multiple baseline evaluation. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. 19(4), 545-559.‏
Downloaded from www.ceciranj.ir
Yates, K., & Le Couteur, A. (2016). Diagnosing autism/autism spectrum disorders. Paediatrics and Child Health. 26(12), 513-518.‏
Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Journal of Personality Assessment. 52(1), 30-41.‏‏
 
 
Empowering Exceptional Children
Volume 13, Issue 2
January 2023
Pages 78-67

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 07 June 2022
  • Revise Date: 19 June 2022
  • Accept Date: 03 August 2022

Share

How to cite

Statistics