The effect of Immunization Group Training in Dealing with Stress on the Quality of Life of Mothers with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Parents often exhibit diverse reactions to the birth of their child, particularly when the child is born with a specific issue or disability, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The current study was designed to evaluate the effects of group-based Stress Immunization Training and its subsequent impact on the Quality of Life of mothers with children diagnosed with ASD. This quasi-experimental study utilized a pre-test-post-test control group design. The participants were mothers of children with ASD who had sought services at a temporary care center for children with Autism Spectrum in Rasht in the year 2021. Initially, forty mothers were selected through purposive sampling and were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Both groups completed the WHOQOL-BREF Quality of Life questionnaire. The experimental group then underwent 6 sessions of Stress Immunization Training (two hours per week), while the control group received nothing. Upon completion of the sessions, the Quality of Life questionnaire was administered again to both groups. The collected data were analyzed using covariance statistical analysis with a significance level set at 0.05. The findings indicated that group-based Stress Immunization Training significantly improved the Quality of Life in mothers of children with ASD. Therefore, this treatment can be used by counselors and psychologists to increase the quality of life of the mothers of children with ASD.