The effect of positive psychotherapy-based training given to mothers of children with autism on the psychological well-being, hope and quality of life

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted in order to determine how positive psychotherapy (PPT)-based training given to mothers of children with autism affects their psychological well-being, hope, and quality of life. Methods: The research was conducted as an experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group, with mothers of children diagnosed with autism. The study was completed with the 34 mothers of children with autism (23 in the control group and 11 in the experimental group). While the mothers in the experimental group were delivered eight sessions of PPT-based training, no intervention was applied to mothers in the control group. Results: It was found that the scores of the mothers in the experimental group on the psychological well-being (41.72 ± 1.74), hope (49.45 ± 1.35) and quality of life (91.72 ± 2.59) scales following the PPT-based training increased when compared to their scores on the psychological well-being (35.27±2.00), hope (44.36±1.65) and quality of life (74.18±4.24) scales before the training. In the study, it was determined that PPT-based training caused a statistically significant difference between the psychological well-being, hope, and quality of life levels of mothers in the experimental group (p