Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Support (MBPBS) on Stress, Depression and Anxiety of Mothers of Children with Autism Disorder

Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder suffer from stress, anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to determine the Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Support on stress, depression and anxiety of these mothers.

Thirty mothers with children aged 6-8 years old with autism spectrum disorder were selected randomly from Gorgan Special Schools and were randomly divided into 2 groups of intervention and control. An expert psychiatrist educated MBPBS to the intervention group in 8 sessions. The assessment tools included the Perceived Stress Scale, Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory, completed by all mother before, immediately and one month after the intervention. Independent t-test was used to compare the two groups.

Before intervention, mean scores of depression, anxiety and stress in mothers of autistic children were not significantly different between the intervention and control groups, but the mean scores of the two groups were significantly different after intervention and one month after the intervention; mean scores of depression, anxiety and stress of mothers of autistic children did not change significantly in the control group over time, but decreased significantly in the intervention group (P<0.001).

MBPBS was able to reduce depression, anxiety and stress in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Using MBPBS is suggested to be used for decreasing depression, anxiety and stress in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder.