@Article{pakinsight,
AUTHOR = {},
TITLE = {The Effect of Group Counseling in Reducing Parental Stress and Depression in Jordanian Mothers of Children with Autism},
JOURNAL = {International Journal of Education and Practice},
VOLUME = {8},
YEAR = {2020},
NUMBER = {3},
PAGES = {518-535},
URL = {http://www.pakinsight.com/archive/61/09-2020/3},
ISSN = {2310-3868},
ABSTRACT = {This study aimed to investigate the impact of a group counseling program on reducing parental stress and depression among mothers of Jordanian children with autism. A purposive sample comprising 40 mothers of children with autism was selected from three autism centers in Zarqa and Rusaifa in Jordan; these participants were then randomly assigned to either an experimental group (N = 20) or control group (N = 20). Participants were asked to complete both the Parental Stress Index–Short Form (PSI–SF; including its three sub-scales) and an amended Arabic version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS): pre- and posttest by both groups, and a six-week follow-up test by the experimental group. A CBT-based group counseling program was designed and 14 sessions were held three times per week over a four-week period. The difference between the pre- and posttest scores for the two groups revealed that the experimental group was significantly more likely to have lower levels of parental stress and depression. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in scores between the experimental group’s posttest and follow-up assessment: Total Stress (Total PSI),  Parental Distress (PD), and depression had all decreased significantly; Parent–Child Dysfunctional Interaction (PCDI) had also decreased, but not significantly; however, although not significantly, stress levels associated with a Difficult Child (DC) had increased.},
DOI = {10.18488/journal.61.2020.83.518.535}
}