The effect of acceptance and acceptance therapy (ACT) on happiness, mental health and quality of life of mothers with autistic children

Abstract

Objective: This research aims to investigate the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on happiness, mental health and quality of life of mothers with autistic children. 
Method: The statistical population of this research consists of 30 people (15 people each in the experimental and control groups) selected by available random sampling and then were assigned randomly into two experimental groups (ACT) and the control group. The study had a pre-test-post-test design with a control group, and both groups were pre-tested based on the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, Mental Health Questionnaire, and Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the experimental groups were exposed to independent variables in 8 90-minute sessions (ACT). Then, both groups were given a post-test and a follow-up one month later, and multivariate covariance analysis was used to analyze the data.
Results: The findings with a significance level of 0.05 showed that the ACT in the experimental group subjects, compared to the control group, increased happiness, mental health, and quality of life in the experimental group. The follow-up results showed that the differences in the follow-up scores of happiness, mental health and quality of life are related to the continuation of ACT (group membership).
Conclusion: ACT improves the mental health, happiness, and quality of life of mothers with autistic children.