Effect of Therapeutic Recreation on Mothers Having Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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CERİT E., ŞAHİN E., DÜZ S., KARAÇUL F. E., ÖZDURAK SINGIN R. H.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CLINICAL MEDICINE, cilt.9, sa.7, ss.6087-6100, 2022 (ESCI)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 9 Sayı: 7
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Dergi Adı: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CLINICAL MEDICINE
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), EMBASE
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.6087-6100
  • İnönü Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Introduction: Families having children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were the most negatively affected group in terms of depression, anxiety, somatic complaints, burnout and quality of life (QoL). It is known that Therapeutic Recreation Programs have positive effects on depression symptoms and the quality of life of individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a one-week therapeutic recreation program on the symptoms of depression and QoL of mothers who have children with ASD.

Method: Fifteen mothers volunteered in this quantitative research, which was performed as a single-group pre-test and post-test experimental design. ASD is diagnosed by medical professionals and classified as having moderate or severe ASD according to the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-2-Turkish Version (GARS-2-TV). Data was collected via Quality-of-Life Questionnaire-Parent Edition and Beck Depression Inventory before and after the therapeutic recreation camp at a mountain camping center in 2020.

Results: Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test results revealed that the therapeutic recreation program had a positive effect on the levels of depression and ASD-related QoL but did not have a significant effect on the general QoL of mothers. Conclusion: It can be argued that even a one-week therapeutic recreation program provides a significant improvement in the QoL of mothers and, consequently, a decline in their symptoms of depression.