The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Stress Management Training on Psychological Health and Stress among Parents of Mentally Disabled Children

the rate of psychological health and stress. It explored the effect of different methods of coping with stress. It also examined the effect of the stress management training program on stress reduction in parents with mentally disabled children.

Methods: The parents of mentally disabled children in Rafsanjan city, Iran, (2 health centers) filled out Harry’s stress inventory (HSI) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Sixty couples with the highest score were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups. The experimental group passed the stress management course in 6 sessions for 3 weeks in the rehabilitation center. The control group received no treatment. After the last session and 1 month after the last session, the two groups completed the two questionnaires again. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS software.

Results: There was a significant difference between the pretest and posttest mean scores of stress in the experimental group (P < 0.001); however, this difference was not significant in the follow-up test (P > 0.659). The mean score of psychological health differed significantly between the pretest and posttest in the experimental group (P < 0.001); however, this difference was not significant in the follow-up test (P > 0.646).

Conclusion: Training helps the mothers of mentally disabled children better understand themselves, identify their strengths and weaknesses, find themselves, and commit themselves to improving their weaknesses and developing their strengths. Consequently, they can better accept realities and reduce their psychological stress.