Effectiveness of mindfulness on flexibility and parent-child interactions in mothers of children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness on flexibility and parent-child interactions in mothers of a child with ADHD. The present study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population included all mothers of a child with ADHD in Tehran, from among whom 30 mothers of a child with ADHD were selected by available sampling method as a research sample and were randomly divided into experimental and control groups (15 people in each group). The experimental group received eight sessions of mindfulness-related therapeutic interventions and a 90-minute session per week for two months. The control group did not receive any intervention. At the end of the sessions, post-test was taken from all two groups. Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire (CFI) and Parent-Child Relationship Scale (PCRS) were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis Of Covariance (MANCOVA) by SPSS20 software. The results showed that mindfulness led to a significant increase in flexibility (P <0.01) and parent-child interactions (P <0.01) among mothers of a child with ADHD. According to the research findings, the use of mindfulness to promote flexibility and parent-child interactions of mothers of a child with ADHD is recommended to promote their mental health.