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Read moreBackground: Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience significant emotional challenges due to caregiving demands. Mindfulness-based interventions have been identified as a promising approach to improve emotional well-being, particularly in community-based and low-resource settings.
Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of an 8-week mindfulness based intervention on emotional adjustment among mothers of children with ASD.
Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control-group design was employed, with 100 mothers (50 in the intervention group, 50 in the control group) recruited from community rehabilitation centers and Buds Schools in Kerala, India. Emotional adjustment was assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The intervention group received weekly mindfulness sessions over 8 weeks, while the control group received no structured intervention.
Results: The intervention group showed significant improvement in emotional adjustment, reflected by increased positive affect and decreased negative affect (p < .001, d = 0.59). A repeated-measures ANOVA confirmed a significant time effect (p < .001, η² = .26). No significant changes were observed in the control group.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that mindfulness-based interventions are effective in enhancing emotional well-being among mothers of children with ASD. These interventions may serve as accessible, culturally adaptable, and cost effective strategies in community-based settings
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Mindfulness-Based Intervention; Emotional Regulation; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Caregivers of Children with Autism; Maternal Mental Health; Community-Based Intervention.
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