The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Self-Compassion Education Given to Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an important public health problem in our country as well as all over the world. The physical, psychological, social and economic problems and mood disorders experienced by the parents of these children can negatively affect not only themselves, but also the effectiveness of the intervention and treatment programs applied to the children. Therefore, many mindfulness-based intervention programs aim to improve stress reduction, resilience and well-being in parents.In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the effect of mindfulness-based self-compassion training given to parents of children with ASD on stress, resilience and well-being. The research will be carried out with the parents of children aged 7-12 years who applied to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic of Atatürk University Health Research and Application Center located in Erzurum city center between December 2022 and October 2024 and diagnosed with ASD. The sample of the study was determined by G-power analysis. With the power analysis, it was calculated that at least 65 parents should be included in the sample, in the calculation made at the level of α=0.05, the effect size of 150, 153 (d=0.8) and the power of the study to be 90%. Therefore, the sample size of this study is planned to be 65. The parents of the children with ASD included in the study will be randomized in a single-blind manner, and experimental and control groups will be formed. After the pre-tests are applied to both groups, Awareness-Based Self-Compassion Training will be given to the experimental group and the effect of this training will be tried to be determined with the final measurements. The purpose of Awareness-Based Self Compassion Training; It is aimed at helping parents of children with ASD to cope with stress, increase their psychological resilience and improve their well-being skills.In the collection of research data, an introductory information form containing the socio-demographic data of the child with ASD and the parent, prepared by the researcher in line with the literature, Parental Stress Scale (SIDS), Psychological Resilience Scale for Adults, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, Self-Compassion Scale Short Form (SSS-F), Conscious Awareness Scale (CIFI) will be used. SPSS 22.0 package program will be used in the evaluation of the data obtained in the research. In the evaluation of data, number, standard deviation, percentile, mean, minimum and maximum values, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Shapiro-Wilk analysis, histogram and skewness-kurtosis tests, independent groups t-test, chi-square test, paired, Wilcoxon test, Mann- Whitney U test, Spearman's correlation test, Cronbach's alpha will be done.When the international and national literature is examined, no studies have been found on reducing stress, increasing psychological resilience and well-being of Awareness-Based Self-Compassion training. Considering the problems experienced by the parents of children with ASD, it is thought that, as an evidence-based practice of Awareness-Based Self-Compassion training, attempts to be made for parents regarding stress, psychological resilience and well-being are important.As a result of the research, Awareness-Based Self-Compassion Education is expected to reduce stress and increase psychological resilience and well-being in parents of children with ASD.

Inclusion Criteria:To be at least a primary school graduate.Being the parent of a child whose age is 7-12 and diagnosed with ASD.Willingness to participate in the study.To be open to communication and cooperation.Exclusion Criteria:Parental psychiatric problems.