KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Applied Family Therapy Journal (AFTJ) 3041-8798 6 Serial Number 27 2025 05 01 The Effectiveness of Lyubomirsky’s Happiness Training on Negative Emotions (Depression, Stress, and Anxiety) and Cognitive Flexibility in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder The Effectiveness of Lyubomirsky’s Happiness Training on Negative Emotions (Depression, Stress, and Anxiety) and Cognitive Flexibility in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder 1 8 10.61838/kman.aftj.6.3.8 EN Journal Article 2025 01 21 <table style="height: 651px; width: 97.7212%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 63.6488%;" width="464"> <p><strong>Objective:</strong> The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of happiness training based on Lyubomirsky’s model in reducing negative emotions and enhancing cognitive flexibility in this population.</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials: </strong>This study employed a quasi-experimental design using a pretest-posttest control group format. The statistical population included mothers of children with autism who attended the "Golhaye Beheshti" Center in Qom during spring 2024. A total of 30 participants were selected through simple random sampling and assigned to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group participated in eight 90-minute sessions of happiness training. The research instruments included the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Cognitive Flexibility Scale developed by Dennis and Vander Wal (2009). Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).</p> <p><strong>Findings: </strong>The results indicated that Lyubomirsky’s happiness training significantly reduced depression, anxiety, and stress levels while significantly increasing cognitive flexibility in the experimental group (P &lt; 0.05).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Happiness-based intervention can serve as an effective strategy for promoting the mental health of mothers of children with autism by alleviating negative emotions and strengthening their cognitive capacities.</p> <p><strong><em>Keywords: </em></strong><em>Happiness training, depression, anxiety, stress, cognitive flexibility, mothers, autism spectrum disorder.</em></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/aftj/article/download/4094/7051