Comparative study on the effectiveness of group schema therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction program on the meaning of life of mothers of children with cancer

Abstract

Background and Aim: Having a child with cancer can result in emotional instability, insecurity and stress among family members, especially parents. Thus, the present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of group schema therapy versus mindfulness-based stress reduction program on the meaning of life of mothers of children with cancer. Methods: The present study was applied in terms of aim, quantitative in terms of data type, semi-experimental in terms of data collection method, and pretest-posttest in terms of methodology. The statistical population of the study included 60 mothers of children with cancer in Taleghani Children's Educational and Medical Center in Gorgan in the first half of 2018. Based on purposeful sampling, 30 people in two experimental groups and one control group were selected as the sample (10 people in each group). The Steger et al. (2006) meaning of life questionnaire was used to collect data. To analyze the data, SPSS-20 software was used in two descriptive and inferential sections. Results: The results revealed that schema therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction program increased the meaning of life in the experimental group in the posttest stage (p <0.001).