Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Abstract
The present study examines the hypotheses that children of divorce who participate in MBCT-C would benefit significant enhancement of negative emotion regulation (anxiety, depression and anger) and show greater acceptance and mindful attention.This study is based on a semi-experimental prospective design with pre-post-follow up measures and control group. A sample of 30 children living with a divorced parent (12 boys and 18 girls) aged 10-13 were collected from 3 public schools. This sample was divided randomly into two groups as experimental group (5 boys and 9 girls), and control group (7 boys and 9 girls). All participants completed State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), Child Depression Inventory (CDI), and Child Acceptance Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) before, after, and at a six-month follow up. Experimental group received twelve 90-minute sessions of mindfulness based cognitive therapy for children but the control group did not receive any intervention. The results indicated that the experimental group showed significantly fewer symptoms of depression, trait anxiety, state anxiety, trait anger, and state anger, and increased emotion regulation in comparison with control group. Intervention group also showed significant enhancement in acceptance and mindful attention.The results provide further support that mindfulness based cognitive therapy for children of divorce can improve their emotion regulation and could help them out to adjust with their living condition.
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