The Effect of Training Mindfulness to the Mothers of the Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder on the Decrease of their Aggression

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of psychology, Bandar Deylam branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Deylam, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran.

3 1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr Branch, Bushehr, Iran

4 Professor,Department of Psychology ,Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.

5 Professor, Department of Basic Sciences, Neuroscience Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction and purpose: Autism spectrum disorder leads to acute behavioral disorders such as aggression in the inflected children. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of training mindfulness to the mothers of the children with autism spectrum disorder on the decrease of their aggression.
Method: the present study was quasi-experimental with pretest, posttest, control group and one-month follow-up period design. The statistical population of the present study included eighty five six-to-twelve-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder who referred to two autism rehabilitation centers in the city of Tehran (Shamim and Fariha)in the spring and summer of 2019. 20 people (14 boys and 6 girls) were selected through purposive sampling method and they were randomly accommodated into experimental and control groups (each group of ten children). The mothers of the children present in the experimental group received twelve sessions of training mindfulness during three months. The research questionnaires included children’s aggression questionnaire (Shahim, 2006). The data were analyzed via repeated measurement ANOVA.
Findings: The findings of the present study showed that training mindfulness to the mothers of the children with autism spectrum disorder was effective on the decrease of their aggression (F=12.06, Eta=0.62, P≥0002).
Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that training mindfulness can be used as an efficient method to decrease aggression in the children with autism spectrum disorder through employing techniques such as thoughts, emotions and mindful behavior.

Keywords


1. Baio J, Wiggins L, Christensen DL, et al. (2018). Prevalence of Autism Spectrum
Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States.(2018). MMWR Surveill Summ, 67, 1–23.
2. Barnhofer, T.(2019). Mindfulness training in the treatment of persistent depression: can
it help to reverse maladaptive plasticity? Current Opinion in Psychology, 28, 262-267.
3. Bentenuto, A., Perzolli, C., Falco, S., Venuti, P. (2020). The emotional availability in
mother-child and father-child interactions in families with children with Autism
Spectrum Disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 75, 101-106.
4. Boonen H, Maljaars J, Lambrechts G, Zink I, Van Leeuwen K, Noens I. (2014).
Behavior problems among school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder:
associations with children's communication difficulties and parenting behaviors. Res
Autism Spectrum Disability, 8, 716-25.
5. Capobianco, L., Reeves, D., Morrison, A.P., Wells, A.(2018). Group Metacognitive
Therapy vs. Mindfulness Meditation Therapy in a Transdiagnostic Patient Sample: A
Randomised Feasibility Trial. Psychiatry Research, 259, 554-561.
6. De Giacomo, A., Craig, F., Terenzio, V., Coppola, A., Campa, M. G., & Passeri,
G. (2016). Aggressive behaviors and verbal communication skills in autism spectrum
disorders. Global pediatric health, 3, 233-239.
7. DiLalla, L.F., & DiLalla, D.L. (2018). Gene-environment correlations affecting
children's early delinquency and aggressive play behaviors. Twin Research and Human
Genetics, 21(4), 285-288.
8. Farmer, C.A., Aman, M.G. (2011). Aggressive behavior in a sample of children with
autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(1), 317-323.