Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran (corresponding author) , abbas.bakhshipour@gmail.com
Abstract: (7 Views)
Background: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders, potentially impairing mothers’ mental health. Reduced psychological flexibility increases these mothers’ vulnerability to stress and emotional problems. Although recent attention has been given to interventions such as Emotion‑Focused Therapy and Self-Compassion Training to enhance flexibility, comparative evidence on their effectiveness in this population remains limited.
Aims: The present study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy and self-compassion training on parental burnout and psychological flexibility in mothers of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Methods: The research method employed a quasi-experimental design, with a pre-test–post-test format, a control group, and a two-month follow-up. The statistical population of this study comprised all mothers of children aged 7 to 11 years with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Zanjan city in 2024. Using purposive sampling and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 45 mothers were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (15 participants in each group). Data were collected using the Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire (Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010). The first experimental group received eight 45-minute sessions of Emotion‑Focused Therapy, and the second experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of Self-Compassion Training. The collected data were analyzed using mixed analysis of variance with repeated measures and a Bonferroni post hoc test in SPSS version 26.
Results: The results indicated that both emotion-focused therapy and self-compassion training were effective in enhancing psychological flexibility (P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, Bonferroni post hoc tests showed that the mean scores of psychological flexibilities in the post-test and follow-up stages were higher in the emotion-focused therapy group compared to the self-compassion training group, indicating the superior effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy. The effects and stability of the interventions in the experimental groups persisted after a two-month follow-up.
Conclusion: Given the greater effectiveness and durability of emotion-focused therapy, it is recommended that counseling and treatment centers utilize this approach to psychologically empower mothers of children with ADHD, enabling them to better cope with the challenges of parenting and related stress.
Aims: The present study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy and self-compassion training on parental burnout and psychological flexibility in mothers of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Methods: The research method employed a quasi-experimental design, with a pre-test–post-test format, a control group, and a two-month follow-up. The statistical population of this study comprised all mothers of children aged 7 to 11 years with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Zanjan city in 2024. Using purposive sampling and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 45 mothers were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (15 participants in each group). Data were collected using the Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire (Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010). The first experimental group received eight 45-minute sessions of Emotion‑Focused Therapy, and the second experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of Self-Compassion Training. The collected data were analyzed using mixed analysis of variance with repeated measures and a Bonferroni post hoc test in SPSS version 26.
Results: The results indicated that both emotion-focused therapy and self-compassion training were effective in enhancing psychological flexibility (P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, Bonferroni post hoc tests showed that the mean scores of psychological flexibilities in the post-test and follow-up stages were higher in the emotion-focused therapy group compared to the self-compassion training group, indicating the superior effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy. The effects and stability of the interventions in the experimental groups persisted after a two-month follow-up.
Conclusion: Given the greater effectiveness and durability of emotion-focused therapy, it is recommended that counseling and treatment centers utilize this approach to psychologically empower mothers of children with ADHD, enabling them to better cope with the challenges of parenting and related stress.
Keywords: Emotion-focused therapy, self-compassion training, psychological flexibility, mothers, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
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