Group ACT for Enhancing Mental Comfort in Mothers of ADHD Children

Hassanvand, Mohammad Bagher; Asadi Rajani, Maedeh; Yousefi, Saeed

doi:10.30473/ijohp.2025.71634.1366

Document Type : research

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.

² Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.

³ PhD student of psychology and education of exceptional children, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

10.30473/ijohp.2025.71634.1366

Abstract

Objective
This study explored how group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help improve the mental well-being of mothers who have children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Method
The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-post-test design and a control group. Thirty mothers of children diagnosed with ADHD were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: 15 mothers participated in seven weekly ACT sessions, while 15 mothers formed the control group. We measured mental well-being using the Mental Comfort Questionnaire and analyzed the results using ANCOVA to account for initial differences.
Results
Mothers who attended the ACT sessions showed significant improvements in several areas of mental comfort, including positive emotions, self-confidence in coping, elevated feelings, family support, communication within close groups, and overall mental well-being (all p< 0.05). Effect sizes were moderate to large (η² between 0.12 and 0.65). Social support showed a trend toward improvement (p = 0.07), but no significant changes were observed in mental control or social connection.
Conclusions
Group ACT appears to be an effective approach to enhance various aspects of mental comfort among mothers caring for children with ADHD, promoting greater psychological flexibility and better interpersonal relationships. However, challenges in mental control and social connection suggest that additional or combined therapies might be necessary. These findings support ACT as a flexible, culturally adaptable method to support caregiver mental health.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Psychological interventions in health and diseases

Article Title [Persian]

درمان مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد گروهی برای افزایش آرامش روانی در مادران کودکان مبتلا به ADHD

Authors [Persian]

محمدباقر حسنوند ¹
مائده اسدی رجانی ²
سعید یوسفی ³

¹ استادیار، گروه روانشناسی و آموزش کودکان استثنایی، دانشکده روانشناسی و علوم تربیتی، دانشگاه علامه طباطبایی، تهران، ایران.

² کارشناسی ارشد روانشناسی بالینی، گروه روانشناسی، دانشگاه علامه طباطبایی، تهران، ایران.

³ دانشجوی دکتری روانشناسی و آموزش کودکان استثنایی، دانشکده روانشناسی و علوم تربیتی، دانشگاه تهران، تهران، ایران.

Abstract [Persian]

هدف:
این مطالعه بررسی کرد که چگونه درمان گروهی مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد (ACT) می‌تواند به بهبود سلامت روان مادرانی که فرزندانی با ADHD دارند، کمک کند.

روش:
ما از یک طرح نیمه‌تجربی با پیش‌آزمون و پس‌آزمون، شامل یک گروه کنترل، استفاده کردیم. سی مادر دارای کودکان مبتلا به ADHD انتخاب و به طور تصادفی به دو گروه تقسیم شدند: 15 مادر در هفت جلسه شرکت کردند و 15 مادردر گروه کنترل بودند. ما سلامت روان را با استفاده از پرسشنامه آرامش روانی اندازه‌گیری کردیم و نتایج را با استفاده از ANCOVA تجزیه و تحلیل کردیم.

نتایج:
مادرانی که در جلسات ACT شرکت کردند، بهبودهای قابل توجهی در چندین زمینه از سلامت روان، از جمله احساسات مثبت، اعتماد به نفس در مقابله، احساسات بالا، حمایت خانواده، ارتباط در گروه‌های نزدیک و سلامت روان کلی نشان دادند (همه p < 0.05). اندازه‌های اثر متوسط تا بزرگ بودند (η² بین 0.12 و 0.65). حمایت اجتماعی روند رو به بهبودی را نشان داد (p = 0.07)، اما هیچ تغییر قابل توجهی در کنترل روانی یا ارتباط اجتماعی مشاهده نشد.

نتیجه‌گیری:
به نظر می‌رسد ACT گروهی رویکردی مؤثر برای افزایش آسایش روانی مادرانی است که از کودکان مبتلا به ADHD مراقبت می‌کنند و انعطاف‌پذیری روانشناختی بیشتر و روابط بین فردی بهتری را ترویج می‌دهد. با این حال، چالش‌هایی در کنترل روانی و ارتباط اجتماعی نشان می‌دهد که ممکن است درمان‌هایی دیگر ضروری باشد. این یافته‌ها از ACT به عنوان روشی انعطاف‌پذیر و سازگار با فرهنگ برای حمایت از سلامت روان مراقبان حمایت می‌کند.

Keywords [Persian]

درمان مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد (ACT)
اختلال کم‌توجهی بیش‌فعالی
مادران
آسایش روانی
سلامت روان

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Group ACT for Enhancing Mental Comfort in Mothers of ADHD Children

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Volume 8, Issue 1 - Serial Number 23June 2025

Volume 8, Issue 1 - Serial Number 23
June 2025