Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Based Intervention on Stress, Future Anxiety and Quality of Life among Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Cerebral palsy is the most prevalent motor disability in children. The term "cerebral palsy" represents a group of conditions brought on by faulty brain development or brain injury that happen shortly after birth or early in life. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment-based interventions on stress, future anxiety, and quality of life among mothers of children with cerebral palsy. Setting: The study was conducted in the outpatient clinic (Nero-psychiatric clinic) at EL Mogamma EL Teby AL Shamal, Shebin El-Kom City. Subjects: A purposive sample of 150 mother's children with cerebral palsy from the previously mentioned setting was included in the study. Instruments: Four tools were used; a semi-structured interviewing questionnaire, a stress level scale, a future anxiety scale, and a quality of life scale. After acceptance and commitment-based intervention and follow-up, the total score of stress and future anxiety levels in the study group are significantly lower than in the control group. Furthermore, the total score of quality of life levels significantly increased in the study group than in the control group after acceptance and commitment-based intervention and on follow up. Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment therapy was an effective intervention in reducing stress levels and future anxiety and improving the quality of life among mothers of children with cerebral palsy. Recommendation: As the primary source of information for mothers when giving the child necessary treatment, nurses in the outpatient clinic, physiotherapy clinic, and pediatrics department should be trained well and supplied with information and training on the cerebral palsy program. Also, an in-service training program for nurses on the value of acceptance and commitment therapy and how to use it to reduce future anxiety, and stress and improve quality of life.

The Impact of Group Psychoeducation for Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…overall well-being and quality of life (7). Improving the quality of life of mothers is an indirect way to intervene in children because they are responsible for supporting, caring for, and stimulating the growth and development of children (8).…”