Najme Ebrahimzade; Seyyed Mohsen Asgharinekah; Sakineh Soltani Kouhbanani
Abstract
Abstract
The study aimed to investigate the effect of increasing patience group training on self-efficacy and attitude of mothers with exceptional children. This quasi-experimental study involved a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The population of the study included all mothers with ...
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Abstract
The study aimed to investigate the effect of increasing patience group training on self-efficacy and attitude of mothers with exceptional children. This quasi-experimental study involved a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The population of the study included all mothers with exceptional children in Mashhad who were registered with the exceptional education department in Khorasan province. Voluntary participation and sample selection using random sampling were utilized. Thirty-two mothers of exceptional children were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (16 participants per group). The instruments used to measure the study variables were the patience, Domka self-efficacy, and parents' attitudes toward exceptional children questionnaires. A pre-test was conducted on both groups. The experimental group underwent ten sessions of patience training, while no training was provided to the control group. After the training sessions, both groups took the questionnaires again (post-test). Data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariate analysis of covariance (MONCOVA). The results revealed that patience training led to enhanced self-efficacy, reduced hopelessness, improved attitude, increased failure tolerance, and lower levels of shame in mothers with exceptional children. As a result, it is recommended that counselors and psychologists focus on patience training in family education programs and groups of parents of exceptional children.
Keywords: Patience, Self-Efficacy, Attitude, Mothers Of Exceptional Children.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
When an exceptional child is born, the parent's experience of parenting and the process of acceptance will be different. (Azad Yekta, 2021). An exceptional child is defined as a child with mental, physical, social, or emotional disorders that may stop or slow down their growth and development. This could lead to behavioral and emotional issues, and pose challenges for parents (Joe and Associates, 2020, Afsari & Zeinali, 2021). Parents may feel a wide range of emotions, including anger, guilt, and disappointment, in their struggle to adapt to the situation of having an exceptional child. This experience has been linked to mental health issues and marriage problems and often leads to a need for receiving educational and empowerment programs (Rane, 2020; Kargar and Asghari Ebrahim Abad, 2015; Rezapour Mirsaleh and associates, 2020). One of the primary reasons for educating mothers is to shape, change and improve their behavior. Group education has been found to be among the most effective approaches in recent years (Norouzi and Associates, 2019). However, there has been a lack of focus on the importance of patience in regard to factors such as self-efficacy and attitude. The potential benefits of cultural and spiritual practices in improving self-efficacy and changing attitudes towards exceptional children have also not received sufficient attention.
This study aims to investigate the effects of a patient-education group based on cultural and religious teachings to enhance endurance and acceptance of hardships in the mothers of exceptional children. The goal is to examine whether this intervention will improve self-efficacy and attitudes in these mothers or not.
Literature review
The experience of living with an exceptional child can be highly challenging for mothers, who are under tremendous mental pressure to help their children navigate various difficulties and maintain their well-being. In this environment, their attitude towards their children is crucial, as it can greatly impact their ability to manage the various challenges they face and ensure their family's well-being (Jebelli & Khademi, 2019; Rani, 2020). Belief in one's self-efficacy has been identified as an important factor in influencing people's attitudes. Triandis explains that improvements in attitude can lead to increases in self-efficacy (Namazi & Associates, 2020). Along with positive attitudes, self-efficacy can fulfill basic cognitive needs such as a sense of worth, autonomy, and social relations. Moreover, the journey towards building self-efficacy can be a challenging one for exceptional children's parents, with potential ups and downs (Smart, 2016).
The role of self-efficacy in life is well-documented, particularly in the context of providing mothers of exceptional children with the necessary skills and support to navigate the challenges they face. Improving self-efficacy has been identified as a priority for these mothers and makes it urgent to develop interventions to address this need. Patience, as outlined by Currier and associates (2015), is central in allowing individuals to find meaning and purpose in times of difficulty. This can provide a valuable framework for understanding the role of self-efficacy in supporting mothers of exceptional children to navigate challenges and find a sense of purpose in their roles.
Patience can be defined as an individual's capability to delay a desired outcome without experiencing negative emotions or reactions towards the present situation (Roberts & Fishbach, 2020). Patience, from a psychological perspective, refers to one's ability to effectively manage internal and external pressures. This can involve learning to respond to challenging situations in a way that reduces stress levels and promotes a sense of emotional security. Psychologists identify three main components in the development and maintenance of patience: emotional, cognitive, and behavioral. These components relate to an individual's ability to tolerate uncertainty, regulate their emotions and beliefs, and modify their behaviors accordingly (Ghebari Bonab & Associates, 2017). Overall, patience
Methodology
This research study examines the impact of patience education on the self-efficacy and attitudes of mothers with children with special needs. The study utilizes a quasi-experimental design, with a randomized control group consisting of two groups of moms: the examination group that received 10 training sessions on patience and the witness group that did not receive any training. The study collected data from 32 moms via pre-testing and post-testing, using questionnaires focused on patience, self-efficacy, and parental attitudes towards exceptional children. This is an important area of research as there is a need to identify and implement effective methods to improve the well-being of mothers with children with special needs.
Introduction to intervention program
Based on this information, it appears that the 10-session training program focused on building patience through a variety of strategies, including:
Learning to use software to facilitate the process
Understanding pain conservation and acceptance
Developing a new perspective on life events
Acquiring an understanding of the process of grief
Recognizing the blessings bestowed by God
Learning to not put oneself in pain while raising exceptional children
Finding inspiration by studying the story of Moses and Khizr
Distincting between tolerance and patience
Improving anger management skills
Developing a sense of positivity
Understanding the different types of angry people and managing anger
Developing existential capacity and assumptions
Identifying ways to develop patience, including changing attitudes towards life and recognizing that patience is a learnable skill
Studying holy verses on patience and its consequences, and engaging in Q&A.
Overall, the program aimed to promote patience among mothers of exceptional children through a combination of educational, spiritual and emotional tools.
Results
The research data was analyzed using single and multi-factor analysis of covariance, and the results indicate that the training of patience can have a positive effect on self-efficacy, change of attitude, failure, disappointment, shame, and patience of mothers of exceptional children.
Table 1. results of comparing two groups in self-efficacy and patience.
factor
Source for change
Sum of squares
Degree od freedom
Average sum of squares
F
P
Effect size
Self-effocacy
Pre-test
84/94
1
84/94
10/1
30/0
03/0
group
17/692
1
7/692
08/8
008/0
21/0
error
34/2483
29
63/85
total
81689
32
Pre-test
75/360
1
75/360
96/5
02/0
17/0
Patience
group
05/684
1
05/687
35/11
002/0
28/0
error
93/1754
29
51/60
total
256823
32
Based on the table provided, it is clear that there is a significant difference between the examination group, which received the training of patience, and the witness group, which did not receive training, in terms of self-efficacy and patience. Specifically, the examination group demonstrated higher self-efficacy and patience in the post-test phase compared to the pre-test phase, indicating that the training of patience has been effective in improving these outcomes. These findings suggest that the training of patience may be an effective intervention strategy to enhance the well-being of mothers of exceptional children.
Discussion
From the findings of this study, it is evident that training in patience can positively influence the self-efficacy, change of attitude, failure, disappointment, shame, and patience of mothers of exceptional children. Patience is an innate human trait that enables individuals to develop the ability to handle life pressures with resilience. The ability to defer one's own interests with the hope of attaining knowledge or a desirable outcome in the future is critical for personal growth and well-being. By improving their patience skills, mothers of exceptional children may be better equipped to handle the challenges of raising children with special needs.
Conclusion
The study showed significant differences in the self-efficacy, change of attitude, failure, disappointment, shame, and patience levels of mothers of children with exceptional needs between the examination and witness groups. As a result, it is recommended that counselors and psychologists consider incorporating patient training in the family education and group programs of mothers of children with exceptional needs to enhance their well-being.
Acknowledgements
We extend our gratitude to the mothers who participated in the study and provided valuable insights into the effect of patient training on their well-being. Their participation was crucial in helping us gather important data and make meaningful contributions to the field. We hope that this research can contribute to developing more effective interventions to support the needs of mothers of exceptional children.
Shahla Zoormand Bonab; Farideh Hosseinsabet; aboalghasem isamorad
Abstract
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a persistent neurodevelopmental disability that persistent challenges in the development of social communication, speech, non-verbal communications also behavioral patterns of a child with this disorder can affect mother-child interaction. Therefore, it is important ...
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a persistent neurodevelopmental disability that persistent challenges in the development of social communication, speech, non-verbal communications also behavioral patterns of a child with this disorder can affect mother-child interaction. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the factors affecting mother's adaptation in order to promote mother's health and improve mother-child relations. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the role of patience and moral intelligence in predicting the action control components (action and state orientation) of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. The statistical population included about 300 mothers with children with autism spectrum disorder who were members of the male-manahad and self-organized group "Negar's Autism Experimental Question and Answer; Ilya's Mother" in Tehran, of which 169 people were selected by convenience sampling method.To measure the research variables, Hossein Sabet Patience Measurment Scale (PS), Lenick and Kiel Moral Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ), Action Control Scale-Revised (ACS-R) were used in the internet implementation method. Data analysis was done using spss software and descriptive statistical techniques, Pearson correlation analysis and multivariables regression analysis. The results showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between patience and moral intelligence with the components of disengagement, initiative and persistency and a negative and significant relationship with the components of preoccupation, hesitation and volatility. Therefore, the findings indicate the role of patience and moral intelligence in increasing action orientation and reducing state orientation in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder.
Keywords: Patience, Moral Intelligence, Action Control, Cction Orientation, Sstate Orientation.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Autism spectrum disorder is one of the important childhood disorders that includes a range of neurodevelopmental disorders and continues throughout life (Nahar, Zambelli & Halstead, 2022). Compared to other social and emotional disorders, this disorder has a confirmed and clearer neurological basis (Kalaivnai & Kalimo, 2018), which is created as a result of abnormal brain development and affects a person's cognitive and social abilities (Perlman & Howe, 2022). The main characteristic of this disorder is mentioned as a range of developmental failures in two main areas; a) failure in communication, social development, and behavioral patterns and b) limited, repetitive, and stereotyped interests and activities (Hyman, Levy & Myers, 2020; Zhou et al, 2018). In this direction and during the late and difficult diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, the lack of definitive and effective treatments and the not very favorable prognosis of this disorder, increasing psychological pressures are imposed on parents (Aghili et al., 2022). Since the mother is often the first person who is in direct and continuous contact with the child and according to the norms of society and family, she is more responsible for taking care of the children than fathers for this reason, mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder endure a complicated and very challenging life compared to fathers (Frantz, Hansen & Machalicek, 2018) as well as compared to mothers of normal children, mothers of children with chronic diseases, and mothers of other children with special needs (Gobrial, 2018).
Therefore in new research, more attention has been paid to the effects these children have on their parents including their mothers. Researchers believe that there are many moderating factors between mothers' mental pressures and child disorders (Falahzadeh et al., 2017). In such a way, if mothers with a child with autism spectrum disorder can see the desired situations in a new way, in fact, their approach to the emergency situation should be multi-dimensional, in that case, they can find ways to deal with it properly according to their personal abilities and environmental factors (Rasouli & Kalantari, 2017). Action control as a retrospective strategy is one of the self-regulation processes that refers to the ability to plan and implement goals in the face of problems and challenges and includes aspects such as: thinking through long-term goals, resistance to temptation, delaying gratification, and controlling emotions; a problem that mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder face because of the constant stress and heavy emotional burden that having a child with this disorder imposes on them (Ingersoll & Hambrick, 2011).
To help these mothers, if the solutions used are suitable for their social contexts, the work of treatment and education will be more effective. In this regard, the review of concepts such as patience and moral intelligence showed that these two variables have a close semantic relationship with many psychological characteristics and dimensions of action orientation.
Research Question(s)
1- Determining the role of patience and moral intelligence in predicting disengagement_ preoccupation in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder.
2- Determining the role of patience and moral intelligence in predicting initiative_hesitation in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder.
3- Determining the role of patience and moral intelligence in predicting persistency_volatility in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder.
2- Literature Review
People with action orientation can regulate emotions intuitively, flexibly, efficiently, and non-repressively, such as the ability to stop thoughts and reflections without any external help. In addition, these people can reduce negative emotions in response to negative life events and continue on their way after failure. In such a way, they can flexibly adapt to the environmental requirements and show more advanced cognitive control against it. Therefore, action orientation is associated with commitment, certainty, low levels of negative emotional thoughts, less vulnerability to stress, and economical processing of information. On the other hand, people with static orientation are not able to perform self-regulating behaviors and tend to ruminate on negative events in life, which reduces the available cognitive resources for moving forward. Therefore, state orientation is also related to the lack of self-regulation ability, rumination, reduction of cognitive resources to perform committed activities, and the inability to activate appropriate adaptive processes (Farokhi & Hossein Chari, 2013).
Considering that patience is known as one of the factors that reduce nervous pressure and help people adapt to life's adversities and challenges. on the other hand, it is a structure that allows people to show emotional self-regulation, self-monitoring, and the ability to restrain inner desires against suffering and adversities (Ranjabr et al., 2021; Khormaie, Azadi Deh Bidi & Haghjo, 2015), hence it seems to have similarities to the dimensions of action orientation.
Background research shows the importance and effectiveness of patience in reducing negative emotions and depression, increasing the level of happiness, well-being, and psychological well-being (Sharifi-Saki et al., 2017; Mirzaie-Fandokht et al., 2016; Sartipi, Sohrabi and Pasandideh, 2015; Zare Bouani & Hossein-sabet, 2017; Hossein-sabet, 2017). Based on the research of Schnitker (2012) and Schnitker et al. (2019), patience has been introduced as one of the factors affecting hedonistic and virtue-oriented well-being, and its training predicts changes in positive emotions and reduces depression and anxiety. Also, Ibn-Rasoul Sanati, Hossein-sabet, and Motamedi (2017) showed in their research results that patience directly has consequences such as self-control and kindness, each of which helps to reduce negative emotions or increase positive emotions and it can have a powerful effect on regulating emotions.
The results of the research show the positive role of moral intelligence and its components in improving the psychological well-being, and mental and physical health of people who have this characteristic (Pourseyed & Pourseyed, 2021; Hejazi & Ghanizadeh, 2017; Pourjamshidi & Beheshti Rad, 2014; Sotoudeh et al., 2015; Brown, 2013). It can be said that people who have higher moral intelligence benefit from the cognitive regulation of positive emotions and the reduction of cognitive errors (Naimi and Golshani, 2018; Mosalman, Zemestani & Mahdavi, 2017). In this regard, Mirghazanfari & Izadi (2021) and Kapri and Rani (2014) also found in their research that people with high moral intelligence have a greater ability to tolerate stress, worry, and anxiety and the possibility of maladaptive behaviors in response to stressful situations. According to the results obtained from various studies, moral intelligence and its dimensions cause responsibility (Rahimi, Madani & Mohammadian, 2014), increasing commitment, stability, and stability of people's performance (Lambert & Dollahite, 2008). Yip & Tse (2009) in research found that the forgiveness factor of moral intelligence is significantly related to interpersonal and social compatibility, psychological well-being, and reduction of depression. Also, Gol Mohammadian (2015) emphasized the role of moral intelligence in the dimensions of women's family functioning (problem-solving, roles, communication, emotional companionship, emotional intercourse, and behavior control).
3- Methodology
The present study was a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population included about 300 mothers with children with autism spectrum disorder who were members of the male-managed and self-organized group "Negar's Autism Experimental Question and Answer; Ilya's Mother" in Tehran, of which 169 people were selected by convenience sampling method. To measure the research variables, the Hossein-Sabet Patience Measurement Scale (PS), Lenick and Kiel Moral Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ), and Action Control Scale-Revised (ACS-R) were used in the Internet implementation method. Data analysis was done using SPSS software and descriptive statistical techniques, Pearson correlation analysis, and multivariable regression analysis.
4- Results
Table 1. Simple correlation coefficient between action control components with patience and moral intelligence
Statistical index
Predictor variable
Criterion variable
Sig.
correlation coefficient
0/000
0/742
patience
disengagement_preoccupation
0/000
0/631
moral intelligence
0/000
0/532
patience
initiative_hesitation
0/000
0/712
moral intelligence
0/000
0/684
patience
persistency_volatility
0/000
0/537
moral intelligence
Table 2. Variance analysis of action control prediction and its components based on patience and moral intelligence
Adjusted R Square
R²
Sig.
F
Mean Square
df
Sum of Squares
Source of changes
Title
0/518
0/524
0/000
91/257
280/192
2
384/560
Regression
Disengagement_preoccupation based on patience and moral intelligence
2/107
166
349/807
Residual
168
734/367
Total
0/328
0/336
0/000
41/966
111/791
2
223/581
Regression
Initiative_hesitation based on patience and moral intelligence
2/664
166
442/194
Residual
168
665/775
Total
0/352
0/352
0/000
74/737
74/737
2
149/474
Regression
Persistency_volatility based on patience and moral intelligence
1/606
166
226/586
Residual
168
416/059
Total
Table 3. Estimating the prediction coefficients of action control components based on patience and moral intelligence
standardized coefficients
Unstandardized coefficients
Title
Sig.
t
Beta
Std. Error
B
0/000
8/732
-
0/675
5/897
Constant
Disengagement_preoccupation based on patience and moral intelligence
0/000
6/605
0/564
0/011
0/072
patience
0/025
2/257
0/193
0/007
0/016
moral intelligence
0/000
4/901
-
0/759
3/722
Constant
Initiative_hesitation based on patience and moral intelligence
0/000
3/638
0/367
0/012
0/044
patience
0/015
0/000
2/447
0/247
0/008
0/020
moral intelligence
0/000
6/774
-
0/590
3/994
Constant
Persistency_volatility based on patience and moral intelligence
0/008
4/582
0/453
0/009
0/043
patience
1/764
0/175
0/006
0/011
moral intelligence
5- Discussion & Conclusion
In general, with the investigations carried out in the field of problems of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder, we found that this group of mothers are under pressure and tension due to the constant care of these children; in such a way that compared to the parents of normal children, they experience more dysfunctional attitudes, spontaneous thoughts and negative emotions. This is even though some individual characteristics can help people cope with such issues. In this regard, the results of the present study showed that patience and moral intelligence are among the concepts that have action orientation components in increasing disengagement, initiative and persistency, which means producing positive emotions and reducing negative emotions related to unpleasant events and starting activities and they can protect mothers of children with this disorder against static orientation. Therefore, the findings indicate the role of patience and moral intelligence in increasing action orientation and reducing state orientation in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder.