The effects of mindfulness-based self-compassion training on stress, psychological resilience, and well-being in parents of autistic children: a randomized controlled study

Abstract The present study was conducted to determine the effects of a mindfulness-based self-compassion training intervention given to the parents of autistic children on parental stress, psychological resilience, and well-being. This single-blind, randomized, controlled experimental study included the parents of autistic children aged 7–12 years who presented to the child and adolescent psychiatry clinic of our hospital. The parents were randomized to the experimental group ( n = 34) and control group ( n = 34). The experimental group received mindfulness-based self-compassion training once a week for 10 weeks. Data were collected before and after the intervention by using the Parental Stress Scale, Resilience Scale for Adults, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form, and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. After the intervention, parents in the experimental group showed a significant decrease in stress scores (36.12 ± 10.27 vs. 31.21 ± 7.34, mean change: −4.91 ± 2.93) and increases in resilience (118.06 ± 12.77 vs. 126.00 ± 14.90, mean change: 7.94 ± 2.13), self-compassion (33.44 ± 5.41 vs. 37.21 ± 5.12, mean change: 3.77 ± 0.29) and mindful awareness scores (56.00 ± 11.02 vs. 63.53 ± 10.75, mean change: 7.53 ± 0.27) ( p <.001 for all). The results suggest that Mindfulness-Based Self-Compassion Training is effective in reducing stress and increasing psychological resilience, self-compassion, and mindfulness in the parents of autistic children. The use of such interventions can be recommended.