Efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Alexithymia, Psychological Capital, and Subjective Vitality in Mothers with COVID-19 and Autistic Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in reducing Alexithymia, enhancing psychological capital, and increasing subjective vitality in mothers diagnosed with COVID-19 who have autistic children. This was a quasi-experimental study employing a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group. The sample consisted of mothers diagnosed with COVID-19 having autistic children in the city of Mashhad, who were referred to the Ava Health Center (Total: 70 individuals). Data were collected using random cluster sampling, and finally, 30 individuals were selected and assigned to two groups of 15 participants each in the experimental and control groups. For data collection and evaluation of the desired characteristics and conditions, a demographic form and questionnaires on marital intimacy, forgiveness, and marital boredom were used. Participants in the experimental group underwent therapy in eight 90-minute sessions held twice weekly based on Bowen's (2009) family therapy protocol. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with the SPSS-16 statistical software. The findings indicated that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy was effective in reducing Alexithymia (p = .004), increasing psychological capital (p = .001), and enhancing subjective vitality (p = .001) in the mothers with COVID-19 and autistic children (p > .05). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can be utilized to improve Alexithymia, psychological capital, and subjective vitality in mothers diagnosed with COVID-19 who have autistic children.