Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and hopelessness in parents of children with autism: A randomized controlled trial.
Journal of pediatric nursing January 1, 2026 Selverhan Yurttutan, Emine Geçkil
An eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program reduced depression, anxiety, and stress among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In a randomized controlled trial with 96 parents in Konya, Türkiye, those who participated in weekly MBSR sessions showed significantly lower depression, anxiety, and stress at both post-intervention and four-week follow-up compared to a control group receiving routine monitoring. However, hopelessness scores did not differ significantly between groups, suggesting that hopelessness may be less responsive to short-term interventions. The findings indicate that nurse-delivered MBSR programs can be integrated into family-centered care to reduce psychological distress in parents of children with ASD.