The effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral program based on acceptance and commitment to treat depression among mothers of autistic children 1444 AH - 2023 AD

The study aimed to reveal the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral program based on acceptance and commitment to treat depression among mothers of autistic children. The study sample was (20) mothers of children on the autism spectrum, distributed into two groups, one experimental, consisting of (10) mothers, and the second a control, consisting of (10). Mothers, whose ages ranged between (40-41) years. The study used the quasi-experimental approach to achieve the objectives of the study. The depression scale prepared by Beck and the program based on acceptance and commitment (prepared by the researchers) were applied. The results revealed that there were statistically significant differences between the average ranks of the experimental group’s scores in the two pre- and post-measurements on the depression scale in the direction of the pre-measurement. It was also shown that there were statistically significant differences between the average ranks of the experimental and control group’s scores on the depression scale after applying the counseling program in the direction of The control group. The results of the study also indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between the average ranks of the experimental group’s scores in the post and follow-up measurements on the depression scale.Key words : Cognitive behavioral programme, Acceptance and Commitment, Depression, Mothers of children with autism spectrum.