The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on psychological well-being and happiness of mothers of children with cancer

Introduction: Regarding that cancerous children's mothers have a lot of care responsibility, this research  was done to study the effectiveness of acceptance & commitment-based method of therapy on the happiness and psychological well-being of cancerous children's mothers.  Methods: The present study is a semi-experimental type of pre-test post-test design with a control and follow-up group. The statistical population of the study was mothers referring to Saba Institute in Boukan city in 1396. Using random sampling, 30 people were selected. Data collection tools were Oxford Happiness and psychological well-being questionnaires. The intervention was took place at 8 sessions and it was followed up 1 month later. Covariance was used to analyze the data. Results: ACT is effective on the happiness of cancerous children's mothers. Furthermore, ACT has a meaningful effect on the happiness sub-scales such as satisfaction with life, self-satisfaction and self-esteem and One month after the intervention, it remained stable. It is also effective on the psychological well-being of cancerous children's mothers and all the sub-scales of psychological well-being; One month after the intervention, it remained stable too. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that ACT is effective on the happiness and the psychological well-being of cancerous children's mothers. This intervention method can be used as an efficient and effective way to promote the happiness and well-being of mothers in Cancer Patients' Treatment Centers.