Effectiveness of Self-compassion Training on Parenting Stress of Mothers with Visually Impaired Children

Background: This study aims at investigation of the effectiveness of selfcompassion training on parenting stress of mothers with visually impaired children. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest intervention and a control group. The statistical population of the study included mothers with visually impaired children in Isfahan. Thirty mothers between eighteen and forty years old were selected using purposefully and convenient sampling. Subjects were matched in two groups of 15 intervention and control members based on the pre-test score of parenting stress. The intervention group received self-compassion training intervention for eight weeks and the control group did not receive training during this period and was placed on a waiting list. The questionnaire used in this study was the parenting stress index. The findings were analyzed using analysis of covariance by SPSS-23 software. Results: The results showed that self-compassion training significantly reduced parenting stress in the experimental group compared to the control group (P=0.002). Also, in terms of parenting stress in childhood, the mean scores in the experimental group decreased significantly after intervention compared to the control group (P=0.018). In terms of parenting stress among parents, the mean scores in the experimental group decreased significantly after intervention compared to the scores in the control group (P=0.0001). Conclusion: Since parenting is associated with stress and parents of visually impaired children suffer more stress, self-compassion training can play an important role in reducing their parenting stress.