The effect of positive psychotherapy-based education given to parents of children with autism spectrum disorder on coping with stress, anxiety and depression levels

The Effect of Positive Psychotherapy Based Education Given to Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder on Coping with Stress, Anxiety and Depression Level Aim: This study was carried out in order to investigate the effect of Positive Psychotherapy (PP) based education given to parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on coping with stress, anxiety and depression level. Material Method: The study was conducted with 148 parents (74 experimental group - 74 control group) with (ASD) as half experimental model with pre-test, post-test control group. Those, who consented to participate, were included in the study. Since 10 participants did not participate in the study several times due to pandemics, and 14 participants did not want to continue PP education, the study was completed with 50 participants of experimental group. The control group of the study was finalized with 58 parents because 6 participants left the city due to residence change, and 10 participants did not join the final test. The experimental group was given an 8 session Positive Psychotherapy based education face to face by the researcher. However, there was no attempt of submitting education to the control group. "Introductory Specifications Form" (ISF), "Beck Depression Scale" (BDS), "Beck Anxiety Scale" (BAS) and "Coping with Stress Scale" CSS) were used in collecting the data. Number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square were used in data analysis; and t test was used in dependent and independent groups. Results: It was determined that the stress coping levels of the parents participating in the survey were low, while their anxiety and depression levels were high in pre-test of experimental and control groups before PP education. However, after PP education, it was observed that there appeared increase in the skills of coping with stress with the parents in the experimental group, while there was decrease in their anxiety and depression levels. Also, it was revealed that the comparisons of the mean points of parents both in experimental and in control group coping with internal stress, anxiety and depression had statistical significance (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was seen that PP based education has had an increasing effect in coping with stress skills of the parents who have children with ASD, while it has had decreasing effect on their anxiety and depression levels. Key Words: Anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Depression, Positive Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Nursing, Stress.