Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Resilience and Quality of Life in Mothers with Children with Learning Disabilities

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy of cognitive therapy based on mindfulness in relation to the resilience and quality of life of mothers who have children who have learning disabilities. The research employed an applied, semi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up, as intended. The study's statistical cohort comprised mothers of children diagnosed with learning disabilities residing in Tehran during the initial half of 2020. As the final sample, forty mothers were chosen using the method of purposive sampling and were divided at random into two groups—one experimental and the other—consisting of twenty mothers each. The Connor and Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (BCFQLS) were utilized as research instruments. The control group did not receive mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, whereas the experimental group participated in eight sessions of such treatment. After a post-test at the conclusion of the session and two months later, follow-up was conducted. Utilizing SPSS-24 software and the statistical procedure of analysis of covariance, the data were analyzed. The findings from the covariance analysis indicated that the experimental group exhibited a statistically significant increase in both resilience and quality of life. Additionally, the beneficial effects of cognitive treatment based on mindfulness were maintained. Therefore, mothers of children with learning disabilities may benefit from an effective method of enhancing their children's resilience and quality of life through the implementation of mindfulness-based cognitive treatment.

Keywords

• mindfulness based cognitive therapy
• quality of life
• resilience