Efficacy of Mentalization-Based Treatment on the Self-Conscious Affect and Quality of Life among Mothers of Children with Intellectual Developmental Disorder

The purpose of the current study was to examine the effectiveness of mentalization-based treatment in improving the self-consciousness and quality of life of mothers who have children diagnosed with intellectual developmental disorder. The study was quasi-experimental in nature, employing a pretest-posttest control group design with a two-month follow-up period. The statistical sample for the spring and summer of 2021 comprised the mothers of children diagnosed with intellectual developmental disorder residing in the town of Ardebil. A purposive sampling method was employed to select 37 mothers of children diagnosed with intellectual developmental disorder. These mothers were then randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. Over the course of two months, the mothers in the experimental group attended eight sessions of mentalization-based treatment. This research employed the Self-Conscious Affect Questionnaire (SCAQ) and the Quality of Life Questionnaire (FQLQ). The data were analyzed utilizing SPSS-25 software and the mixed variance analysis procedure. Positive self-conscious affect (F=42.86; Eta=0.55; P=0001), negative self-conscious affect (F=51.84; Eta=0.59; P=0001), and quality of life (F=33.93; Eta=0.49; P=0001) were all significantly improved by mentalization-based treatment in mothers of children with intellectual developmental disorder. On the basis of the study’s results and findings, it is possible to conclude that mentalization-based treatment can be an effective method for enhancing the quality of life and self-awareness of mothers of children with intellectual developmental disorder. This is accomplished through the use of mindfulness-related techniques, including those involving thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.