The Effectiveness of Compassion-Based Intervention on Parental Burnout and the Parent-Child Relationship of Mothers of Children with Separation Anxiety Disorder

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

3 Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Faculty of Literature and Humanities Sciences, Science & Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to examine the effectiveness of compassion-based intervention on parental burnout and the parent-child relationship of mothers of children with separation anxiety disorder in Qaimshahr city for the years 2021-2022. A quasi-experimental methodology was implemented in this investigation, which included a control group and a pre-test-post-test design. Mothers of pupils diagnosed with separation anxiety disorder comprised the statistical population. The sample consisted of 30 mothers who were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups, with 15 individuals in each group. The mothers were selected using the available sampling method and according to the research criteria. The experimental group underwent compassion training for eight 90-minute sessions, with one session scheduled each week. Conversely, the control group did not receive the intervention. Both groups were evaluated using Roskam's parental burnout scales and Pianta's parent-child relationship scales. The data was analyzed using both single and multivariate covariance analysis. The results indicated that the parent-child relationship improved in the total score and its components (including: conflict, closeness, and dependence) and the total parental burnout scores and its components (including: exhaustion in parental role, feelings of being fed up, emotional distancing, and contrast in parental) decreased following the intervention (p<0.001). Therefore, compassion can be employed as an effective intervention in this field due to its positive impact on the parent-child relationship and the reduction of mothers' burnout by inducing self-awareness and mental health.

Keywords


ابارشی، ز.، طهماسبیان، ک.، مظاهری، م. ع.، و پناغی، ل (1388). تأثیر آموزش برنامۀ ارتقای رشد روانی- اجتماعی کودک از طریق بهبود تعامل مادر-کودک بر خود اثرمندی والدگری و رابطۀ مادر و کودک زیر سه سال. پژوهش در سلامت روا ن‌شناختی، 3(3)، 57-49. http://rph.khu.ac.ir/article-1-115-fa.html
جوادی، ف.، حسن زاده، س.، افروز، غ. ع.، و قاسم زاده، س. (1399). تأثیر برنامۀ درمانی مبتنی بر تعامل والد- کودک (PCIT) بر رابطۀ خانواده با کودکان دارای اختلال طیف اُتیسم. فصل‌نامۀ پژوهش‌های کاربردی روان‌شناختی، 11(3)، 54-37. https://doi.org/10.22059/japr.2020.265071.642963
خداپناهی، م.ک.، قنبری، س.، نادعلی، ح.، و سیدموسوی، پ. (1391). کیفیت روابط مادر- کودک و نشانگان اضطرابی در کودکان پیش‌دبستانی. روان‌شناسی تحولی روا‌ن‌شناسان ایران، 9(33)، 13-5. https://sanad.iau.ir/Journal/jip/Article/1054324  
طالب‌پور کلهرودی، ا. (1391). بررسی شیوع اختلال اضطراب جدایی و اثربخشی دو روش درمان گروهی تعامل والد- کودک بر کاهش نشانه‌های آن در دانش آموزان پسر مقطع ابتدایی شهر اصفهان. پایان نامه کارشناسی ارشد، دانشگاه شهید چمران اهواز. https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir/#/articles/9a3667029c1a141f9264c4455eb06fee  
فاتحی پیکانی، ف.، و صالحی، ا. (1399). اثربخشی آموزش فرزند پروری مبتنی بر شفقت به والدین بر تنظیم شناختی هیجان و خودکارآمدی دانش‌آموزان دختر مبتلا به اضطراب اجتماعی. زن و فرهنگ، 45(12)، 33-21. https://sanad.iau.ir/fa/Article/920413?FullText=FullText
کاظمینی، ت.، سپهری شاملو، ز.، مشهدی، ع.، و مدرس‌غروی، م. (1397). مؤلفه‌های کنش انعکاسی در والدین کودکان با تشخیص اختلال اضطراب جدایی: پژوهش کیفی. فصلنامۀ سلامت روان کودک، 5(3)، 192-181.‎ http://childmentalhealth.ir/article-1-695-fa.html
محمدی سنگاچین‌دوست، ع.، و حسین‌خانزاده، ع. ع. (1402). درمان مبتنی بر شفقت و اختلال نارسایی توجه/ فزون‌کنشی. تهران: آوای نور.
موسوی، س.ف. (1399). مقایسۀ تجربۀ فرسودگی والدینی و نگرش به نقش‌های جنسیتی در مادران شاغل و غیر شاغل ساکن شهر تهران. مطالعات اجتماعی روان‌شناختی زنان، 18(4)، 32-7.https://doi.org/10.22051/jwsps.2020.31965.2250
References
Abareshi, Z., Tahmasian, K., Mazaheri, M. A., & Panaghi, L. (2009). The impact of psychosocial Child Development training program, done through improvement of mother-child interaction, on parental self-efficacy and relationship between mother and child under three. Journal of Reserch in Psychological Health; 3(3) :49-58. http://rph.khu.ac.ir/article-1-115-en.html (In Persian)
Aghebati, A., Joekar, S., Hakim Shoshtari, M., Gharraee, B., & Maghami Sharif, Z. (2021). Parenting programme for mothers of children with separation anxiety disorder: Benefits for Iranian mothers and children. Early Child Development and Care, 191(15), 2459-2468. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2020.1716743
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. (5thed.). Text revision (DSM-5-TR™). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing. https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm
Azizi, M., Sepehri, S., & Demehri, F. (2021). Effect of acceptance and commitment therapy combined with compassion-focused therapy on behavioral problems and mother-child interactions in children with hearing impairment. Auditory and Vestibular Research, 30(4), 256-263. https://doi.org/10.18502/avr.v30i4.7473
Bratt, A. S., Svensson, I., & Rusner, M. (2019). Finding confidence and inner trust as a parent: experiences of group-based compassion-focused therapy for the parents of adolescents with mental health problems. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 14(1), 1684166. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2019.1684166
Carvalho, S., Martins, C. P., Almeida, H. S., & Silva, F. (2017). The evolution of cognitive behavioural therapy – The third generation and its effectiveness. European Psychiatry, 41(Supplement), s773-s774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1461
Chapman, L., Hutson, R., Dunn, A., Brown, M., Savill, E., & cartwright-hatton, S. (2022). The impact of treating parental anxiety on children’s mental health: An empty systematic review. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 88(6),102557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102557
Craig, C., Hiskey, S., & Spector, A. (2020) Compassion focused therapy: A systematic review of its effectiveness and acceptability in clinical populations. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 20(4), 385-400. https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2020.1746184
Driscoll, K., & Pianta, R. C. (2011). Mother’s and father’s perceptions of conflict and closeness in parent- child relationships during early childhood. Journal of Early Childhood and Infant Psychology. 7, 1-18. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2013-00755-001
Ehrenreich, J. T., Santucci, L. C., & Weiner, C. L. (2008). Separation anxiety disorder in youth: Phenomenology, assessment, and treatment. Psicologia Conductual. 16(3), 389-412. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19966943/
Fatehi Peykani, F., & Salehi, A. (2020). The effectiveness of parents' compassion-based parenting training on the emotion cognitive regulation and self-efficacy of students with social anxiety. Journal of Woman and Cultural, 45(12), 21-33. https://sanad.iau.ir/en/Article/920413?FullText=FullText (In Persian)
Gilbert, P. (2009). The compassionate mind: A new approach to life’s challenges. London: Constable and Robinson Ltd. Google Scholar
Gilbert, P. (2014). The origins and nature of compassion focused therapy. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 53(1), 6-41. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12043
Gilbert, P., & Choden. (2014). Mindful compassion: How the science of compassion can help you understand your emotions, live in the present, and connect deeply with others. New Harbinger Publications. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-20386-000
Gilbert, P., & Proctor, S. (2006). Compassionate mind training for people with high shame and self-criticism: Overview and pilot study of a group therapy approach. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 13(6), 353–379. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.507
Guillen, K. M. (2022). Evaluating the impact of a compassion focused therapy group on parent and caregiver psychological flexibility. Master of Arts degree in Education. The University of Western Ontario. Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 8459. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/8459
Javadi, F., Hassanzadeh, S., Afrooz, G. A., & Ghasemzadeh, S. (2020). The effectiveness of parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) on the relationship between children with autism spectrum disorder and their families. Journal of Applied Psychological Research,11 (3), 37-54. https://doi.org/10.22059/japr.2020.265071.642963 (In Persian)
Jin, X., Dong, Y., & Du, W. (2022). the impact of family factors on children’s mental health during home quarantine: an empirical study in Northwest China. Sustainability. 14(12), 7202. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127202
Kazemeini, T., Sepehri Shamloo, Z., Mashhadi, A., & Moddares Gharravi, M. (2018). Reflective functioning factors in parents of children with separation anxiety disorder: A qualitative research. Quarterly Journal of Child Mental Health, 5(3), 181-192. http://childmentalhealth.ir/article-1-695-en.html (In Persian)
Khodapanahi, M. K., Ghanbari, S., Nadali, H., & Seyed Mousavi, P. (2012). Quality of mother–child relationships and anxiety syndrome in preschoolers. Developmental Psychology: Iranian Psychologists, 9(33), 5-13. https://sanad.iau.ir/Journal/jip/Article/1054324 (In Persian)
Khoshvaght, N., Naderi, F., Safarzadeh, S., & Alizadeh, M. (2021). The effects of compassion-focused therapy on anxiety and depression in the mothers of children with cerebral palsy. Archives of Hygiene Sciences, 10(3), 225-234. http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/AHS.10.3.225
Mikolajczak, M., Gross, J. J., & Roskam, I. (2019). Parental burnout: What is it, and why does it matter? Clinical Psychological Science. 7(6), 1319–1329. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702619858430
Mofrad, S., Abdullah, R., Samah, M. A., Mariani, B., Mansor, M., & Baba, M. B. (2009). Maternal psychological distress and separation anxiety disorder in children. European Journal of Social Sciences. 8(3), 386-394. Link
Mohammadi Sangachindoost, A., & Hossein Khanzadeh, A. A. (2023). Compassion-based therapy and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Tehran: Avaye Noor. (In Pesian)
Mousavi, S. F. (2021). The Comparison of parental burnout experience and attitudes towards gender roles in employed and non-employed mothers living in Tehran. Quarterly of Women's Studies Sociological and Psychological, 65, 7-32. https://doi.org/10.22051/jwsps.2020.31965.2250 (In Persian)
Ordway, M. R., Webb, D., Sadler, L. S., & Slade, A. (2015). Parental reflective functioning: An approach to enhancing parent-child relationships in pediatric primary care. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 29(4), 325-334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2014.12.002
Rahmani Shams, H., Nejat, H., Toozandehjan, H., Zendeh-del, A., & Bagherzadeh Golmakanih, Z. (2022). Effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy on metacognitive beliefs, forgiveness, and psychological well-being of women applying for divorce. Avicenna Journal of Neuro Psycho Physiology, 9(1),17-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.32592/ajnpp.2022.9.1.103
Roskam, I., Aguiar, J., Akgun, E., Arikan, G., Artavia, M., Avalosse, H., … & Mikolajczak, M. (2021). Parental burnout around the globe: A 42-country study. Affective Disorders, 2(1), 58-79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42761-020-00028-4
Roskam, I., Brianda, M. E., & Mikolajczak, M. (2018). A step forward in the conceptualization and measurement of parental burnout: The parental burnout assessment (PBA). Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 00758. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00758
Talebpur Kelhorodi, A. (2012). Investigating the prevalence of separation anxiety disorder and the effectiveness of parent-child interaction group therapy methods on reducing its symptoms in elementary school boys in Isfahan city. Doctoral thesis in general psychology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Ahwaz University, Ahwaz, Iran. (In Persian)
Yaffe, Y. (2021). A narrative review of the relationship between parenting and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 26(1), 449-459. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2021.1980067
 
Volume 16, Issue 2
March 2025
Pages 201-215
  • Receive Date: 30 January 2023
  • Revise Date: 27 February 2023
  • Accept Date: 06 May 2023
  • First Publish Date: 30 April 2025
  • Publish Date: 22 June 2025