Effectiveness of Self-Compassion Training on Hoping for Constructive Relationships of Mothers with Exceptional Children

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student in Educational Psychology, Department of Educational Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Unit, Tehran, Iran.

2 Full professor and member of the academic board of Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Health Psychology, Islamic Azad University of Karaj, Alborz, Iran

4 Associate Professor and member of the faculty of Shahid Rajaee University, Tehran, Iran.

5 Visiting Professor of Islamic Azad University, Department of Science and Research, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction and purpose: The birth of a child with a disability causes mothers to face various psychological, emotional and social injuries. according to this the present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of self-compassion training on hoping for constructive relationships of mothers with exceptional children.
Methodology: The present study was quasi-experimental with pretest, posttest, control group design. The statistical population of the research included mothers with exceptional children whose children were studying in one of the exceptional schools of Rafsanjan city in the academic year of 2019-2019, and their number was 320 in total. 37 mothers with exceptional children were selected through voluntary sampling method and were randomly accommodated into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received self-compassion training during twelve sessions. The applied questionnaires included Hope Questionnaire (Snyder et al, 1991). The data from the study were analyzed through Covariance using SPSS statistical software version 23.
Findings: The results showed that self-compassion training has significant effect on the hoping for constructive relationships (F=47.57; Eta=0.58; P<0001) in mothers with exceptional children.
Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, self-compassion training can be used as an efficient method to improve hoping for constructive relationships of mothers with exceptional children through focusing on the method of Visualizing compassion for self and others, using creative helplessness, articulating worthwhile goals, fostering compassionate behaviors, and developing intelligent behaviors.

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