The Effect of Stress Management Program Using Cognitive Behavior Approach on Mental Health of the Mothers of the Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Background:Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children.Objectives:The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of stress management program using cognitive behavior approach on mental health of the mothers of the children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Patients and Methods:In this interventional study, 90 mothers of the children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were randomly allocated into three intervention, placebo, and control groups. The general health questionnaire was used to measure mental health. Besides, stress was assessed through the depression-anxiety-stress scale. The two instruments were completed at baseline, immediately after, and one month after the intervention by the mothers. Afterwards, within group comparisons were made using one-sample repeated measurement ANOVA. One-way ANOVA was used for inter group comparisons. Mothers in the placebo group only participated in meetings to talk and express feelings without receiving any interventions.Results:At the baseline, no significant difference was found among the three groups regarding the means of stress, anxiety, depression, and mental health. However, a significant difference was observed in the mean score of stress immediately after the intervention (P = 0.033). The results also showed a significant difference among the three groups regarding the mean score of mental health (P < 0.001). One month after the intervention, the mean difference of mental health score remained significant only in the intervention group (P < 0.001).Conclusions:The study findings confirmed the effectiveness of stress management program utilizing cognitive behavior approach in mental health of the mothers of the children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Psychological interventions in reducing stress, depression and anxiety among parents of children and adolescents with developmental disabilities: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Hemdi and Daley () found no significant improvements on anxiety at postintervention and at 2‐month follow‐up. Sharif et al () found significant improvements on anxiety at postintervention and at 1‐month follow‐up while Roux et al () found significant improvement in anxiety at postintervention.…”

“…Wong and Poon () did not favour psychological interventions in improving parental stress. Three of the studies (Hemdi & Daley, ; Sharif et al, ; Van Den Hoofdakker et al, ) that had follow‐ups found the maintenance of stress reduction in their intervention groups.…”

“…Six studies examined depression as one of their outcome measures and four studies (Hemdi & Daley, ; Neece, ; Roux et al, ; Wong & Poon, ) found significant improvements on depression among parents at postintervention. One study found no significant improvement on depression at postintervention (Chacko, ) and one study only found a significant effect at 1‐month follow‐up (Sharif et al, ).…”

“…Three studies examined anxiety as one of their outcome measures (Hemdi & Daley, ; Roux et al, ; Sharif et al, ). Hemdi and Daley () found no significant improvements on anxiety at postintervention and at 2‐month follow‐up.…”

DAT1 Gene Polymorphism in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“…The lack of similar research in other parts of the country to compare the results is a limitation of this research, although in the works of Sharif et al and Arabgol et al various issues of ADHD children were contemplated (29,30).…”