The effects of problem solving training on problem solving skills and some of the psychological variables of mothers' who have children with autism spectrum disorder

The purpose of the current study is to investigate the effects of problem solving training on problem solving skills and some of the psychological variables which is parental stress, stress symptoms, state and trait anxiety and depression of mothers who have children with autism. In the study, a psycho-educational programme with 8 session was prepared based on five dimensional social problem solving approach with the purpose of supporting problem solving skills of mothers who have children with autism. In order to evaluate the programme, a pilot study with a marathon group, including 11 mothers who have children with autism, was conducted. Afterward, required changes was performed to complete the programme. The study, in 2 X 3 mixed design, was designed in quasi experimental design with pretest, post test, follow up measures and a control group. Sample of the study was determined by convenience sampling method. Participation of the study was based on voluntariness. 11 control group and 10 experiment group, a total of 21 participants who are mothers of children with autism, living in Muğla were participated in the main study. The programme was conducted as a psycho-educational group study. The programme with 8 sessions was carried out once a week in the periods of 45+45 minute. In pre test, post test and follow up measures, in order to gather demografic information, a demographic form which is developed by researcher. For problem solving skills levels, Problem Solving Skills Inventory-Short Form, for parental stress levels, Questionaire on Resources and Stress-F Turkish, for stress symptoms, Stress Self-Assessment Checklist, for state and trait anxiety levels, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and for depression levels Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale were used as data collection tools. Before and after the two month-long programme, data was gathered from mothers. Additional data was collected from mothers in order to measure satisfaction related to the programme. After one month from post test measures, follow up measures was gathered from both experimental and control groups. In the study, groups' scores, from all scales, were compared by independent samples t-test and it was considered that groups, in all scales, were equivalent in the baseline. Two factorial ANOVA for repeated measures was conducted in all scores and Bonferonni test was used to the ones which have significant value of time X group effect for further comparisons. Data related to determining satisfaction of participants were analyzed by computing percentage values. According to findings of the study, the pscho-educational programme prepared for mothers of children with autism considered as effective on problem solving skills, parental stress, stress symptoms, state and trait anxiety of mothers who participated to the programme. Mothers' problem solving skills increased, stress symptoms and state anxiety levels decreased significantly in post tests, parental stress and trait anxiety levels decreased significantly in follow up measures compared to pretests. It was found that there is no significant difference on mothers' depression levels. Moreover, in all measures and all scales, it was obtained that there is no significant difference in mothers' scores who were in control group. Key words: Life skills, mothers of children with autism, parents, problem solving, psycho-education