Effectiveness of Anger Management and Assertiveness Practices on Reducing Risky Behaviors and Increasing Assertiveness in Mothers of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of anger management and assertiveness practices on reducing risky behaviors and increasing assertiveness in mothers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted based on a control group pretest-posttest design. The statistical population consisted of all mothers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The mothers were then selected randomly based on the inclusion criteria and divided into experimental (n=26) and control (n=26) groups. The psychological evaluations included interviews according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (1994), and Rathus Assertiveness Scale (1973). The evaluations were performed before the onset of the training sessions (anger management and assertiveness practices). After the completion of the sessions, the experimental and control groups were requested to complete the questionnaires again. The obtained data were analyzed using the analysis of covariance.The results showed that anger management and assertiveness training in groups significantly reduced anger and increased assertiveness in mothers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (P˂0.001).

In the field of treatment and in working with mothers of children with developmental neurological disorders and people who are in a state of sudden emotional crisis such as childbirth, life skills training including courage and reducing impulse and anger due to its nature and long-term impact in all dimensions Life looks very productive and promising.