Effectiveness of Group Logotherapy on Meaning in Life in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial

 Background & Objective:  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has three key features, i.e., disorders in social interactions, reciprocal communication problems, and restricted, repetitive behavioral patterns. A child with ASD affects parents and could create tension for parents. Making meaning in life can help parents cope with stressful events. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the effectiveness of group logotherapy on the meaning of life of mothers of children with ASD.  Materials & Methods:  This study was a randomized clinical trial incorporating a pre-test, post-test, and control group. To this end, ۴۰ mothers of children with ASD were selected and randomly allocated into two experimental (n=۲۰) and control groups (n=۲۰). The Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) was used to collect data. The research group received ten sessions of ۹۰ minutes logotherapy twice per week, and the control group received a routine intervention. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software, along with descriptive statistical, mean, chi-square, Levene’s, and t tests.  Results:  The results demonstrated significant differences between the experimental and control groups in the mean score of meaning in life after administering logotherapy intervention (P<۰.۰۰۱).  Conclusion:  The results indicated that group instruction using the logotherapy approach affected the meaning in life of mothers of children with ASD.

Keywords:

Autism Spectrum Disorders , Logotherapy , meaning in life , Group therapy