The effects of mindfulness-based self-compassion training on stress, psychological resilience, and well-being in parents of autistic children: a randomized controlled study

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of a mindfulness-based self-compassion training intervention given to the parents of autistic children on parental stress, psychological resilience, and well-being. This single-blind, randomized, controlled experimental study included the parents of autistic children aged 7-12 years who presented to the child and adolescent psychiatry clinic of our hospital. The parents were randomized to the experimental group (n = 34) and control group (n = 34). The experimental group received mindfulness-based self-compassion training once a week for 10 weeks. Data were collected before and after the intervention by using the Parental Stress Scale, Resilience Scale for Adults, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. After the intervention, parents in the experimental group showed a significant decrease in stress scores (36.12 +/- 10.27 vs. 31.21 +/- 7.34, mean change: -4.91 +/- 2.93) and increases in resilience (118.06 +/- 12.77 vs. 126.00 +/- 14.90, mean change: 7.94 +/- 2.13), self-compassion (33.44 +/- 5.41 vs. 37.21 +/- 5.12, mean change: 3.77 +/- 0.29) and mindful awareness scores (56.00 +/- 11.02 vs. 63.53 +/- 10.75, mean change: 7.53 +/- 0.27) (p <.001 for all). The results suggest that Mindfulness-Based Self-Compassion Training is effective in reducing stress and increasing psychological resilience, self-compassion, and mindfulness in the parents of autistic children. The use of such interventions can be recommended.