ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: A disabled child causes many psychological problems in family members, especially the mother. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of mindfulness based on stress reduction and dialectical behavior therapy on reducing depression in mothers with disabled children in rehabilitation centers.

Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study (pre-test-post-test with control group) 45 mothers of children with disabilities in Erzurum were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly divided into two experimental groups (15 people) and one control group (15 people) were located. For the first group of stress-based mindfulness training (8 sessions); 2 one-and-a-half-hour sessions per week) and 8 sessions for the second group of dialectical behavior therapy; Two weeks of one and a half hour sessions were performed and the control group did not receive any training. All subjects filled out the Beck Depression Inventory (short form) before and after the training. Analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data.

Results: The results showed that the mean scores of depression in the mindfulness training group based on stress reduction compared to the dialectical behavior therapy group and in the dialectical behavior therapy group compared to the control group in the post-test decreased significantly (p <0.05).

Conclusion: The results of study showed that dialectical mindfulness and behavioral therapy training is more effective in reducing depression in mothers with disabled children. Therefore, paying attention to the effectiveness of mindfulness and dialectical behavior therapy on reducing depression in mothers with disabled children is of particular importance.

Keywords: Stress Reduction Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Depression, Mothers, Children with Disabilities