Effects of acceptance and commitment therapy on mothers of children with chronic illnesses

Abstract

Objective: To describe the effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on experiential avoidance (EA) and perceived health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in mothers of children with chronic illnesses.

Materials and methods: A single-case, repeated-measures A-B-A experimental design was used. An ACT-based intervention was administered to six mothers of children with chronic illnesses. Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II) and the Pediatric Quality of Life Questionnaire (PedsQl) were administered. Tau-U analysis identified statistical significance (0.03) in the decrease in ACT in comparisons between baseline and treatment in three participants. Mothers with an initial clinical ACT score showed a statistically significant decrease (0.04) between baseline and follow-up. Statistical evidence of increased HRQoL in their children was identified in the same participants when comparing baseline and treatment (0.03) and baseline and follow-up (0.04).

Results: Were identified after providing the health education session, generating the creative hopelessness process, and building acceptance.

Conclusions: It can be concluded that mothers showed a decrease in experiential avoidance and an increase in their children's perceived quality of life. This identifies the relevance of core processes for increasing psychological flexibility, which contributes to the management of chronic childhood illnesses and influences essential areas of children's lives.

Keywords: Chronic illness; Quality of life; Acceptance and commitment therapy.