Mothers and Mental Health

Objective This study explored how group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help improve the mental well-being of mothers who have children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Method The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-post-test design and a control group. Thirty mothers of children diagnosed with ADHD were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: 15 mothers participated in seven weekly ACT sessions, while 15 mothers formed the control group. We measured mental well-being using the Mental Comfort Questionnaire and analyzed the results using ANCOVA to account for initial differences. Results Mothers who attended the ACT sessions showed significant improvements in several areas of mental comfort, including positive emotions, self-confidence in coping, elevated feelings, family support, communication within close groups, and overall mental well-being (all p< 0.05). Effect sizes were moderate to large (η² between 0.12 and 0.65). Social support showed a trend toward improvement (p = 0.07), but no significant changes were observed in mental control or social connection. Conclusions Group ACT appears to be an effective approach to enhance various aspects of mental comfort among mothers caring for children with ADHD, promoting greater psychological flexibility and better interpersonal relationships. However, challenges in mental control and social connection suggest that additional or combined therapies might be necessary. These findings support ACT as a flexible, culturally adaptable method to support caregiver mental health.