Effectiveness of Supportive and Educational Group Therapy on Mental Health Improvement of Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of supportive and educational group therapy on mental health improvement of mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Method: In this quasiexperimental pre – post study, 20 participants with high levels of anxiety and depression and low levels of quality of life (QOL) were recruited from 127 mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. There were 10 mothers in the intervention group and 10 in the control group. The intervention program consisted of 6 two-hour sessions with an educational portion about the symptoms, etiology and treatment of ASD, and a supportive portion for managing stress and learning problem solving. Results: The mean scores of anxiety and depression decreased and QOL increased significantly in the experimental group 2 weeks after group sections, while this did not occur in the control group. This indicates significant improvement in the mental health of mothers of children with ASD following supportive and educational group therapy. Conclusion: Supportive and educational group therapy is effective for improving the mental health of mothers with ASD children.