Effect of Parent Training regarding Coping Strategies on Reducing Stress among Parent of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Background: There is no doubt that the mothers' adaptation helps improve the quality of life, not only for any child with special needs but for the whole family, which greatly helps in improving the child's condition and improving the care provided to him by a conscious parent who can meet the child's needs properly. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of parent training regarding coping strategies on reducing stress among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research design: A quasi-experimental design was used in carrying out this study. Setting at This study was conducted at the Child Psychiatry out-patient clinic at Sohag University Hospital. Sample: A purposive sample of a total of forty mothers and their children with ASD aged 4-12 years participated in this study. Tools: Four tools were utilized for data collection. I- A structured interviewing questionnaire sheet, which included two parts, part 1: Demographic characteristic of the mothers, Part 2: Demographic characteristic of their children, II-Parenting Stress Index: Short Form Abidin (1992), III- Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI), IV- Child Behavior Checklist. The data were collected before, immediately after and 3 months after the implementation of the parent training program. Results: The current study revealed a statistically significant improvement was found between the Parenting Stress Index and the Coping Strategies Inventory of the studied mothers as pre/ immediate post and after three months after the training program implementation (p < 0.05). Conclusion: implementation of parent training regarding coping strategies reduced stress among mothers of children with ASD, so the study mainly recommended that parent training regarding coping strategies for mothers of children with ASD should be conducted to reduce stress among mothers of children with ASD.