Effect of Stress-Response Psycho-Training on the Stress Levels of Mothers with Autistic Children.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of stress-response psycho-training on the stress levels of mothers with autistic children. The research was experimental in design encompassing a pretest-posttest model with control and placebo groups. Participation in the study was voluntary with a total of 28 mothers of autistic children included with 10 in the experimental group, 11 in the control group and 7 in the placebo group. The Perceived Stress Scale was used as the data collection tool in the research. Stress-response psycho-training based on the cognitive-behavioral approach developed by the researcher was applied with the aim of lowering stress levels of participants in the experimental group over 9 weekly sessions. The placebo group participated in 3 sessions of group guidance activities about the causes of stress and place in life. The control group did not have any procedures applied. For statistical analysis the repeated measurements variance analysis technique was used. The stress-response psycho-training applied in the research was identified to have a significant effect in reducing the stress levels of mothers with autistic children. The obtained results are discussed within the framework of other research in the relevant literature and recommendations are made.