Exploring the Variables of the Psychological Well-Being of Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Self-Compassion and Psychological Hardiness.

Present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between self-compassion and psychological hardiness, and psychological well-being among mothers of children with autism. The research design was correlational, and its statistical population sample consisted of 101 mothers of children with an autism spectrum disorder. The results of a correlational analysis showed a significant positive relationship between self-compassion and psychological hardiness, and psychological well-being. Multiple regression analysis showed that among the variables of self-compassion and psychological hardiness, the variable of self-compassion had the largest share in predicting the psychological well-being of mothers. Concerning self-compassion, conscious awareness of self-kindness along with psychological hardship could predict the psychological well-being in these groups of mothers, such as raising a child with ASD.

Maternal acceptance-rejection, self-compassion and empathy in mothers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Objective This study aimed to determine the link between Parental Acceptance-Rejection (PAR) and empathy and self-compassion in mothers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). Method: The sample consists of 161 mothers who received pre-school education with children diagnosed with IDDs in Iran. The parental acceptance-rejection questionnaire, empathy questionnaire, and self-compassion scale were used as the data collection instruments, which have been analyzed through canonical correlation test. Results: There is a positive correlation between children's self-empathy and self-compassion and the PAR, and there is no significant relationship between mother's affection levels and empathy levels, but there is a significant negative relationship between mother's affection levels and child's self-compassion levels. Conclusion: when the PAR level increases, self-compassion level decreases. It provides support to predict a significant relationship between the mothers' acceptance-rejection variables who have an IDD child and empathy and self-compassion.

Theory of Mind Among Swedish Children with ASD, Down Syndrome and Typically Developing Group.

The present study examined the role of IQ and the Theory of Mind understanding in children with an autism spectrum disorder and down syndrome. Sixty-six Swedish children with ASD (n = 26), DS (n = 18), and typically developed group (n = 22) ranged between 6 and 12 years old were compared on ToM tasks consisted of standard ToM and IQ tasks. SPSS 25 program was used to analyze data. The results indicated that individuals with ASD reach a better understanding of first-order ToM tasks than children with DS. This picture was the same in the TD group to show better ability than children with ASD and DS on first-order tasks, except one task which was not found significant differences. To employ second-order TD performed better than clinical groups, while, there was no significant difference between ASD and DS. The scores for the third-order task in children with ASD were significantly better than children with DS.

Virtual Reality Body Exposure Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa. A Case Report With Follow-Up Results.

OBJECTIVE: Exposure-based therapies such as mirror exposure may help to improve the results of classic cognitive behavioral therapy in anorexia nervosa (AN). Virtual reality (VR)-based procedures provide interesting novelties for targeting body-related concerns. This study aimed to provide preliminary evidence of the usefulness of a VR body exposure therapy in a patient diagnosed with AN. METHOD: Fear of gaining weight (FGW), body anxiety, drive for thinness, body image disturbances, body mass index and body-related attentional bias were assessed before and after the intervention, as well as 5 months later. Five sessions of VR body exposure therapy were included within the standard course of cognitive behavioral therapy. The sessions involved a systematic and hierarchical exposure of the patient to a virtual representation of her own silhouette, with the body mass index of the avatar progressively increasing in subsequent sessions. RESULTS: After the intervention, there was a clear reduction in AN symptoms such as the FGW, drive for thinness, body-related anxiety and dissatisfaction. Body mass index values rose continuously during the intervention and reached healthy levels. Finally, there was a notable change in the dysfunctional body-related attentional bias. Almost all these improvements were maintained after 5 months, except for the FGW. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to focus on treating the FGW and body-related concerns in AN using a VR-based paradigm. To pursue this study further and assess the effectiveness of this new VR software, larger controlled clinical trials are needed.