Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Caregivers (Parents) of Children With Cerebral Palsy

Families of children with disabilities often experience high levels of stress associated with taking care of a child with disability. The perceived stress by the caregivers may often lead to negative outcomes in day-to-day functioning for caregivers themselves as well as the child. Mindfulness as an element of consciousness has been acknowledged to promote positivity and well-being among individuals. It is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. This chapter focuses on the application of mindfulness-based therapies for caregivers (parents) of children with cerebral palsy. This chapter also entails in detail therapeutic techniques like Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), its in-depth description, background, and applications as an effective approach for the intervention of caregivers.

Achtsamkeit

Achtsamkeit ist das Bemühen, sich den Erfahrungen im Hier und Jetzt mit möglichst großer Bewusstheit und Offenheit zuzuwenden. Dieses ursprünglich aus dem Bereich östlicher Meditationsansätze stammende Prinzip wurde in den letzten Jahren vermehrt in die Behandlung von Depressionen und unterschiedlichen anderen psychischen und körperlichen Störungen integriert. Der Band gibt einen praxisorientierten Einblick in die Hintergründe und die Methoden achtsamkeitsbasierter therapeutischer Arbeit. Der Band stellt die Grundzüge achtsamkeitsbasierter Behandlungsverfahren wie Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) oder Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) sowie zentrale Modelle zur Wirkungsweise achtsamkeitsbasierter Verfahren dar. Weiterhin gibt er einen Überblick über wichtige Forschungsergebnisse zur Wirksamkeit von achtsamkeitsbasierten Verfahren. Neben der Anwendung in der Rückfallprophylaxe bei Depressionen wird auch auf die Integration von Achtsamkeit bei der Therapie anderer Störungsbilder und in unterschiedlichen therapeutischen Settings eingegangen. Der Schwerpunkt des Bandes liegt auf der konkreten Darstellung der Behandlungsmethoden. Dabei wird das Vorgehen bei einzelnen Achtsamkeitsübungen, wie z.B. beim Body-Scan oder bei der Sitzmeditation, beschrieben und der Umgang mit möglichen Schwierigkeiten thematisiert. Die Neuauflage referiert aktuelle Forschungsbefunde und stellt ausführlich die achtsamkeitsbasierte Arbeit im Einzelsetting vor. Zudem werden in der Neubearbeitung kritische Aspekte im Kontext von Achtsamkeit diskutiert, wie z.B. die Frage von „Nebenwirkungen“ von Achtsamkeitsübungen oder das Problem einer „Kommerzialisierung“ und „Verflachung“ von Achtsamkeit.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Therapy and Emotion Regulation Training on the Distress Tolerance of Adolescent Girls with a Drug-Dependent Parent

Background: The undesirable conditions resulting from addiction can be mitigated with timely diagnosis and effective interventions. Distress tolerance can be promoted in adolescents with a drug-dependent parent. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapy and emotion regulation training (ERT) on the distress tolerance of adolescent girls with a drug-dependent parent in Ahvaz, Iran. Methods: This clinical trial was performed on the experimental and control groups as the pretest-posttest design with follow-up. The statistical population included all the adolescent girl students with a drug-dependent parent in Ahvaz. The sample consisted of 45 adolescents with a drug-dependent parent selected by cluster sampling. The participants were randomly divided into two experimental groups of MBSR (eight 60-min sessions) and ERT (eight 45-min sessions) and a control group (n = 15 per group). All three groups were followed up after 45 days. The research instrument was the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), and data were analyzed using the analysis of covariance. Results: MBSR and ERT enhanced distress tolerance in adolescent girls with a drug-dependent parent (P < 0.001). The effects of the two interventions were not significantly different, and this result persisted in the follow-up stage. Conclusions: MBSR and ERT increased distress tolerance in adolescent girls with a drug-dependent parent. Therefore, these two interventions can be administered to enhance the mental health of adolescents.

Mediators for Effect of Mindfulness in Promoting Marital Satisfaction: Modeling Structural Equations in an Experimental Study

Objective: The present study evaluated the model of mediating variables concerning effectiveness of mindfulness in improving women's marital satisfaction. Method: This study was quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test and control groups. The statistical population included every married woman in Tehran in the year 1396 (2017). The research sample was composed of 60 married women with moderate marital satisfaction. They were chosen using the convenient sampling technique and were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. The experimental group attended 8 sessions of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and the control group was on a waiting list. Both groups answered the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Interpersonal Reactivity Inventory (IRI), Needs for Intimacy Questionnaire of Bagarozi, Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and the Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI) before and at end of intervention. The data were analyzed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using PLS-22 and SPSS-23. Results: In the initial hypothetical model, which included the direct effect of mindfulness on marital satisfaction and its indirect effects through psychological distress, emotion regulation, empathy, marital intimacy and positive emotion on marital satisfaction, coefficients of all model paths were significant at 95% level except direct path of mindfulness to marital satisfaction (t = 1.14), marital intimacy to marital satisfaction (t = 0.48) and positive affection to marital satisfaction (t = 1.75). After removing the non-significant paths, the model was tested again and the model fit index (GOF = 0.47) was a very good fit for the modified overall model. Conclusion: The results identified mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention was effective in enhancing marital satisfaction through reducing psychological distress and improving emotion regulation and empathy.

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training on Emotional Expressiveness and Fear of Hypoglycemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: Diabetes is a common chronic disorder in which there is a high risk of physical complications and psychological problems such as hypoglycemia and inability to express emotions. Psychological interventions can be effective in this regard. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training on emotional expressiveness and fear of hypoglycemia (FOH) in patients with type 2 diabetes visiting Yazd Diabetes Center. Materials and Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest and posttest design. The statistical population was all patients with type 2 diabetes visiting Yazd Diabetes Center in 2020. Forty men and women were selected using purposeful sampling and were randomly allocated to case and control groups. The case group received 8 sessions of MBSR training, 2 hours each and the control group received no interventions. Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire (EEQ) and the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey (HFS) were used to collect data. Results: Results of ANCOVA showed that MBSR training significantly increases emotional expressiveness and its components (P-value< 0.0001) and decreases the fear of hypoglycemia (P-value< 0.0001) in patients with type 2 diabetes (P-value< 0.035). Conclusion: Based on the results of the study, MBSR training could improve emotional expressiveness, prevent hypoglycemia and reduce the fear of it.