جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « autism spectrum disorder » در نشریات گروه « روانشناسی »

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that is accompanies by behavioral and cognitive difficulties. Given the diverse problems faced by children with ASD, the prevalence of depression is high in their parents. From a cognitive perspective, attentional bias to sad stimuli is associated with depression. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to compare the severity of depressive symptoms in mothers and fathers of children with ASD and to investigate the relationship between depressive symptom severity and attentional bias in both groups. To achieve these objectives, a total of 60 parents of children with ASD were selected using convenience sampling. The severity of depressive symptoms in the parents was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and their attentional bias was evaluated through the emotional Stroop task. The results indicated that the severity of depressive symptoms was higher in mothers compared to fathers. Both groups exhibited attentional bias towards sad materials; however, the relationship between attentional bias and severity of depressive symptoms was not found to be significant. The attentional bias towards sad stimuli and the vulnerability to depression in parents of children with ASD have been discussed.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant communication challenges. Because communication skills are essential to developing other skills, it seems necessary to use early interventions to improve communication skills in children with ASD. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to summarize current research about the effect of the Hanen parent program on the communication, interaction, and language skills of children with ASD. Accordingly, it was searched for all articles and dissertations indexed in Persian and foreign databases, in ScienceDirect, Sagepub, Eric, Wiley, Springer, Pubmed, ProQuest, Noormags, Sid, Magiran, and Irandoc in the period 1990 to 2022; using a combination of expressions including “autism spectrum disorder”, “Hanen parent program”, “communication skills” and “early intervention”. Thus, according to the eligibility criteria (Inclusion and exclusion), thirteen articles were included in this systematic review. The results of these studies showed that the Hanen parent program can lead to the natural acquisition of communication skills in children with ASD by relying on strategies in the natural environment and parent-child interaction. Therefore, it is suggested that the Hanen parent program be used as a beneficial early intervention for children with ASD. However, due to the research limitations that reduce the generalization of the results, its effectiveness requires more detailed studies.

The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy on the personality traits of mothers having children with autism spectrum disorder. This study was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. 45 mothers having children with autism spectrum disorder were selected by available sampling method and were equally and randomly placed in two experimental groups and one control group (15 people in each group). The experimental groups received separate training in acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, while the members of the control group did not participate in these programs. Subjects were evaluated using the five major personality factors questionnaire (1987). The data was analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis of covariance. The research findings indicated that acceptance and commitment therapy was effective on extroversion and cognitive-behavioral therapy was effective on the responsibility of this group of people (P<0.01). Also, examining the difference between the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy showed that there was a significant difference between the effectiveness of these two treatment methods on extroversion and responsibility (P<0.05). From this research, it can be concluded that acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can play an important role in modulating the personality traits of mothers having children with autism spectrum disorder.

Some children encounter developmental disorders in biological growth and evolution that significantly impact developmental stages. One of these well-known genetic and neurodevelopmental disorders is autism. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by various challenges in communication, social interactions, and stereotypical behavior patterns during early developmental stages, leading to prominent functional impairment in individuals. Recently, the evolution of motor skills in children diagnosed with ASD has gained considerable attention, sparking debates on whether motor impairments could be a primary feature of the autism spectrum. However, weaknesses and inconsistencies in motor abilities can lead to social isolation, limited participation in daily activities, language difficulties, issues with play, eye contact, communication challenges, academic and occupational setbacks, anxiety, learning difficulties, dependence, stereotypical behaviors, aggression, rejection of peers, and more. Nevertheless, autism spectrum disorder remains one of the prevalent conditions among children, primarily understood in the context of biological foundations and neurological dysfunction. However, external factors such as the absence of identification, treatment, and care systems, low societal and familial awareness about this disorder, and lack of support for children affected by autism are considered significant societal issues in Afghanistan. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to investigate the effects of visual exercises on the motor abilities of children with ASD in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The current research is of a quantitative and quasi-experimental nature and is conducted through a fieldwork approach. The statistical population of the study consisted of children with autism spectrum disorder ASD in Kabul, Afghnistan. A purposive and accessible sampling method was employed to select 14 children aged 6 to 12 years who were re-evaluated for autism diagnosis using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). These children were divided into pre-test and post-test groups and underwent a 6-week intervention with 30-minute sessions. The critical criteria for sample selection included age (between 6 and 12 years), absence of physical problems and disorders, absence of chronic mental disorders diagnosed by a psychologist, parental and guardian consent, and normal intelligence (IQ>70) based on the assessment (23). Visual impairment was also not reported. In this study, variables were categorized into three groups: independent, dependent, and control variables. The independent variable encompassed six weeks of visual exercises. The dependent variable included static balance, dynamic balance, and finger movement. Finally, the control variable was the intelligence level of the participants. Modified Leckey assessment, Hierarchical Assessment of Balance and Coordination (HABC), and Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS-2) were used as assessment tools to measure motor abilities. After collecting research data, the data were entered into the SPSS-26 software. Confirming the distribution, normality, and homogeneity of the data was done using central tendency and dispersion indices. Subsequently, inferential tests, including the Shapiro-Wilk test (to determine the normal distribution of data), dependent t-test (for within-group effects), and independent t-test (for between-group differences) were conducted at a significance level of 0.05.

Before data analysis, an examination of statistical indices was conducted. The report of this section indicated that the mean scores of the research groups in both experimental and control conditions were normal, and no significant abnormal difference was found. Additionally, before investigating the interventions of visual exercises on motor abilities among the research samples, it was necessary to examine the homogeneity of the groups. For this purpose, an independent t-test was used to assess and compare the visual abilities of children with autism (experimental group and control group) in the pre-test stage. The results showed that in the pre-test stage, considering the test statistics, a significant difference was observed in the motor abilities of the research samples. Dependent t-test results indicated that visual exercises led to significant changes in the motor abilities of the research samples to varying extents. The presented table indicated differences in the scores of research groups resulting from the interventions of these exercises, and statistically, all these differences were reported as significant (P<0.05). Furthermore, an independent t-test was used to compare the effects of visual exercises on motor abilities between groups. The results demonstrated that there were significant differences in the effects of visual exercises on dynamic balance, static balance, and finger movement of children with autism in the experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.05). The findings of these tests suggest that children with autism have diverse motor abilities, and these abilities can be improved and directed toward better adaptability through various interventions and exercises, including visual exercises. In conclusion, the research findings indicated that visual exercises had positive and significant effects on the motor abilities of children with autism in static balance, dynamic balance, and finger movement.

Children with ASD in Afghanistan are among the most underserved globally, lacking any programs or institutions for identification, treatment, care, and support. Therefore, at the very least, interventions and auxiliary exercises can assist in improving the abilities, adaptability, and coordination of their body parts. This research, employing a semi-experimental and field-based approach, has aimed to take a small step towards opening up the culture of research and investigation related to the autism spectrum. It calls for the attention of all domestic and international educators, medical communities, academic societies, and policymakers to focus on the identification, care, treatment, and support of children on the autism spectrum. In conclusion, the overall findings of the research indicate that children with autism in Afghanistan, who are numerous due to general conditions and persistent crises, require identification, treatment, care, and support. On the other hand, society and families must be aware of the rights and living conditions of these children. Compassionate communities and families are the primary needs of these children. Moreover, it is essential to establish institutions for the identification, treatment, and care of these children. Families also need to embrace some basic and even professional exercises and interventions to help these children adapt to life and society. One such intervention is visual exercises, which have a great deal of positive and improving effects on these children’s motor abilities, including static balance, dynamic balance, and finger movements.

The present study aimed to develop a play therapy based on sensory integration and its feasibility on the frequency and severity of challenging behavior in boys with autism spectrum disorder. The study was based on a quasi-experimental pre-and post-test and follow-up of 1.5 months design. The statistical population of this research included all children with autism spectrum disorder from 5 to 12 years old in Gilan province in 2020-2021. Based on the research's inclusion criteria and purposeful sampling, 30 children were selected as a sample and randomly placed in the experimental and control groups. Behavior Problems Inventory (BPI-01) Rojahn et al. (2001) was used in the measuring stages. The intervention was performed individually for 15 sessions of 30-45 minutes (for 5 weeks, 3 days each week) in the experimental group. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze the data. The results showed that the frequency scores of challenging behavior in the experimental group decreased significantly from the pre-test to the post-test and from the pre-test to the follow-up (P<0.05). Also, the severity of challenging behavior scores in the experimental group decreased significantly from the pre-test to the post-test and from pre-test to follow-up (P<0.05). As a result, play therapy based on sensory integration can play an effective role in reducing the frequency and severity of challenging behavior of boys with autism spectrum disorder.

The existence of a disable child in the family can affect family performance. Autism spectrum disorder and its associated problems can affect the performance of the child and quality of life of the family. The present study aimed to investigate was conducted the positive parenting program education on reducing children`s behavioral problems and increased quality of life of the family children with autism spectrum disorder in a semi-experimental research design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up with control group.

The research population consisted of all parents with children with autism spectrum disorder in Shahrekord city, which 30 parents were selected according to exclude criteria and using voluntary sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Participants of exprimental geoup participated in 10 session of 90-minutes under positive parenting education program and were measured in three stages of pre-test, post-test, and follow-up using Achenbach Behavior Checklist and Beach Center Family Quality of life Scale. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance in SPSS-22 software.

The results indicated that positive parenting education program has reduced children behavioral problems and increased quality of life of the experimental group parents compared to quality of life of the control group parents in post-test and follow-up stages.

As a result, it can be said that a positive parenting education program can effectively reduce the children behavioral problems and increasing the quality of life parents with children autism spectrum disorder.

Studies have demonstrated that physical activities highly promote physical, mental and social health of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Numerous factors are involved in the lack of participation of this population in physical activities. The goal of this study was to investigate the family barriers to participation of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in physical activities. This descriptive research had an ex-post facto design. The statistical sample comprised 370 Iranian children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, from both genders, aged 8 to 20 who were selected via cluster sampling method. The research instrument included a researcher-made questionnaire with Cronbach's alpha of 0.985. Data were analyzed using SPSS23 and Smart PLS3. The results showed that family factors are the barriers to participation of children and adolescents with autism spectrum in physical activities. The component “parents prefer their children to focus more on their school responsibilities instead of physical activity participation.” was reported as the most important barrier and the component "Physical activity takes a lot time from my child and he/she cannot do other family responsibilities and daily activities." was reported as the least important barrier. Due to the significant role of family in children’s physical activity participation, it is suggested that in order to promote the physical activity levels in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, family barriers be considered and strategies be planned to overcome them.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of family-centered musical computer rehabilitation on repetitive movements of children with autism spectrum disorder. The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest, posttest and control group design and a two-month follow-up period. The statistical population included children with autism spectrum disorder in the center of Khurshid Shahr Amol in the first six months of 2022. 30 student with autism spectrum disorder were selected through random sampling method and randomly accommodated into experimental and control groups (each group of 15 children). The experimental group received ten minute sessions of family-centered musical computer rehabilitation during ten weeks. The applied questionnaire included Autism Rating Questionnaire (Gilliam, 2014) (ARS). The data from the study were analyzed through mixed analysis of Variance and post hoc Bonferroni test via SPSS23 software. The results showed that family-centered musical computer rehabilitation has significant effect on the repetitive movements (F=44.92; Eta=0.61; P<0001) of children with autism spectrum disorder. According to the findings of the present study it can be concluded that family-centered musical computer rehabilitation can be used as an efficient method to decreace repetitive movements of children with autism spectrum disorder by using music and its therapeutic properties as well as using the family to deepen learning and communicate effectively with a child with autism spectrum disorder.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of biomedical treatments on the symptoms and satisfaction of families with autism spectrum disorder. The present research method was a semi-experimental pre-test-post-test type with a control group. The statistical population of this research was the autistic children of the autism group in virtual space, from which thirty autistic children aged four to twelve with autism, fifteen in the experimental group and fifteen in the control group were randomly assigned. The Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) was used to collect research data. The program was conducted in three months by parents and the supervision of the researcher, and the research data was analyzed using the covariance analysis method. The results of covariance analysis showed that biomedical treatments in reducing the symptoms in the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) have caused families to be satisfied. It seems that with the continuation of this method and reaching higher stages of treatment, more changes can be made in reducing the symptoms of autism and following it, reducing the challenges of the families, leading to the families' satisfaction with the treatment.

Aim:

 The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of emotion efficacy therapy on psychological hardiness and parental burnout of mothers with autistic children.

Method :

The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test and follow-up design. The statistical population of this research included all mothers with autistic children who referred to Dasthaye Mehrabani School (Darya) in Isfahan in 2022. Thirty mothers were selected by purposive sampling method based on the entry and exit criteria and randomly replaced in two intervention and control groups (15 people in each group). Both groups before and after the intervention and 2 months later, in the follow-up phase, were given research tools including the Psychological Hardiness Inventory by Kobasa, Maddi and Kahn (1982) and the Parental Burnout Assessment by Roskam, Brianda and Mikolajczak (2018). The experimental group were treated based on emotion efficacy therapy in 8 sessions of 2 hours, but no intervention was done on the control group. The collected data were analyzed using MANCOVA. 

Results: 

Emotion efficacy therapy was effective on psychological hardiness and parental burnout (p< 0/05), and the effect of this change remained stable until the follow-up stage (p<0/05).

Conclusion :

Emotion efficacy therapy can be used to increase psychological hardiness and  decrease parental burnout among mothers with autistic children.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of the rehabilitation program on processing speed and attention of children with autism spectrum disorder. This research was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, control group and follow-up design. The statistical population included all autistic students in the academic year 2022-2023 in Tehran. A sample of 20 students were selected by purposive sampling and randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received 20 sessions of 30 mins cognitive rehabilitation intervention, twice per week while the control group did not receive any intervention. Integrated Visual and Auditory Continues Performance was used to collect data in three stages (before, after and two months later after the implementation of the cognitive rehabilitation program). The data analyses were done by repeated measurement test. The result showed that the cognitive rehabilitation program had effect on the processing speed and attention of students with autism spectrum disorder. Based on this finding, it is suggested that this program can be used to strengthen and improve executive functions of children with autism spectrum.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the important neurodevelopmental disorders that always has a high comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders. One of the ways to investigate this comorbidity is to identify the underlying mechanisms involved in this association. The aim of the present study was to explore the mediating role of emotion regulation and intolerance of uncertainty in the development of externalizing disorders in children with ASD. The current research was a correlational study using structural equation modeling (pathway analysis). The statistical population included all children and adolescents with ASD in the age range of 8 to 18 years from autism schools and the autism society in Tehran, Tabriz, and Mianeh province. Using a convenience sampling method, a sample of 117 children was selected and the data were collected online from parents. Pearson correlation coefficient and pathway analysis were used for the statistical analysis of data by SPSS and AMOS software. The results of the present study showed that the symptoms of autism directly and significantly explain the symptoms of externalizing spectrum disorders. Also, emotion dysregulation and intolerance of uncertainty as mediating factors explain the severity of externalizing spectrum disorders impairments in children with autism disorder. According to these findings, it can be concluded that emotion dysregulation and intolerance of uncertainty as pathological transdiagnostic factors play an important mediating role in the exacerbation of the symptoms of externalizing disorders in children with ASD.

Learning communication skills for children with autism spectrum disorders is not easy, but communication skills can be improved by using methods. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of body language training using the ABM method on the communication skills of autistic children.

The current research was a semi-experimental type with a pre-test-post-test and follow-up design with a follow-up control group. The statistical population of the present study includes all boys aged 6-12 years with autism spectrum disorder in Isfahan city in 1401, which was selected by voluntary sampling method of 30 boys with autism spectrum disorder using Cohen's table with an effect size of 0.4 0.8 test were selected. The tool used included Jarbak's communication skills questionnaire (2004); which was completed by the experimental and control groups as pre-test and post-test. Language training by ABM method was presented to the experimental group in the form of 18 sessions. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software and by covariance analysis method.

The results show a significant effect of body language training using ABM method on communication skills in autistic children (P≥0.05).

Therefore, this type of training is recommended as one of the practical skills to improve communication skills in autistic children.

This study aimed to Comparison of the effectiveness of problem-solving training and behavior management to mothers on communication skills of children with autism spectrum disorderin Tehran. The research method of the current study was semi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included mothers with children with autism spectrum disorder with high functioning levels who were referred to care centers for children with autism in Tehran in 2019. The statistical sample consists of 45 mothers selected by available and voluntary sampling method, randomly assigned into three groups of 15 people: the experimental group, problem-solving training, the second experimental group, behavior management, 15 people, and the control group, 15 people. Were replaced. All three groups were measured in the pre-test and post-test with Achenbach's Child Behavior Inventory. According to the results of covariance analysis, there was a difference between the two educational approaches of problem-solving and behavior management in aggressive behaviors, law breakers, social behavior, and attention problems between the two groups (P<0.05) and in attention problems, withdrawal/depression. Physical complaints, anxiety/depression, and the difference between the training of the two records were not evident (P<0.05). Based on this, it can be concluded that there were no difference in effectiveness between anxiety/depression and withdrawal/depression in the problem solving and behavior management groups. Still, there was a difference with the control group, which indicates the effectiveness of teaching both approaches to mothers on behavioral problems.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of non-pharmacological interventions effective in reducing stereotyped behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder.

Finally, based on the research entry criteria, among the 120 articles searched, using the prisma checklist, 9 articles were selected and included in the research, and the findings were classified and reported.

The evaluation of the articles showed that the most important non-pharmacological interventions effective in reducing stereotyped behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder include behavioral approaches, play therapy, physical exercises, sensory therapies, and music therapy.

The results of this study include the most important non-pharmacological interventions effective in reducing stereotyped behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder. It is suggested to compare different non-pharmacological interventions effective in reducing stereotyped behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder to guide doctors and parents to choose the most effective intervention methods.

This study set out to determine the impact of a family-centered problem-solving program on emotional regulation of mothers of students with autism spectrum disorder. The research had a pretest-posttest control group design with a follow-up session. The statistical population of the study was comprised of all mothers of students with autism spectrum disorder in Kermanshah in 2018-19 school year. Sixty-four students with autism spectrum disorder were studying in Besharat School which serves autistic students. Thirty mothers of the aforementioned students were selected using purposive sampling method and were randomly assigned to experimental (N=15) and control (N=15) groups. The experimental group was subjected to the family-centered problem-solving training for ten sessions, while the control group did not receive any intervention. The research instrument included the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Gross & John, 2003). The obtained data were analyzed via repeated measures analysis. The results indicated that the family-centered problem-solving program had a significant effect on the emotional regulation of the subjects and this effect was stable over time in the follow-up stage (p<0.01). The family-centered problem-solving program can improve the emotion regulation of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Hence, it is of high importance to utilize this program for mothers with autistic children.

The present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the psychometric properties of the anxiety scale of children with autism spectrum disorder (parent form). The method of the current research was a correlational description. The statistical population of the present study was all children with autism spectrum disorder in Tehran city who were referred to autism education and rehabilitation centers in 2022. 315 children (193 boys and 122 girls) were selected using available sampling method. After translating and obtaining the opinions of experts and subjects, the face validity of the scale was confirmed. AMOS and SPSS software were used for statistical analysis. The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that in the sample of Iranian children with autism spectrum disorder, the four-factor structure of the scale including performance anxiety, anxiety arousal, separation anxiety and uncertainty had a good fit with the data. The results related to the correlation between this scale and the Spence anxiety scale experimentally supported the convergent validity of the anxiety scale of children with autism spectrum disorder. The internal consistency coefficients of the whole scale and subscales of functional anxiety, anxiety arousal, separation anxiety and uncertainty were obtained as 0.79, 0.78, 0.81, 0.76 and 0.82, respectively. Overall, the results of the present study showed that the anxiety scale of children with autism spectrum disorder is a valid and reliable tool for measuring anxiety in Iranian children with autism spectrum disorder. This tool can be used to measure anxiety in Research and treatment sections.

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on happiness and ambiguity of mothers with children with autism spectrum disorder.

The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test-follow-up design with the control group. The statistical population of this study included all mothers with children with autism spectrum disorder in Kermanshah in 2021, from which 30 people were selected by random sampling method and by homogenizing age and level of education were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. Participants responded to the Oxford Happiness Scale (Argyle and Lou, 1989) (OHQ) and the Ambiguity Tolerance Questionnaire (McLean, 2009) (ATQ) for pretest, posttest, and follow-up. After 8 sessions of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy training for the experimental group, the research data were analyzed using repeated measures covariance analysis.

The results showed that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy was effective on happiness and ambiguity tolerance in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (P <0.05) and its effect lasted over time (P <0.05).

Based on the results of applying mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in increasing happiness and the ability to tolerate ambiguity in counseling and psychotherapy centers can be useful and effective.