Effectiveness of Teaching Positive Psychotherapy Techniques on Perceived Stress, Mental Health, and Hope of Mothers of Children with Leukemia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy techniques training on perceived stress, mental health, and hope among mothers of children with leukemia. This applied study employed a quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included all mothers of children with leukemia referred to Mahak Hospital in 2024. A total of 30 participants were selected through simple random sampling and assigned to an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). Data collection tools included the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al., 1983), the General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg & Hiller, 1972), the Hope Scale (Snyder, 1991), and Seligman’s Positive Psychotherapy Protocol (2010). The intervention consisted of six 45-minute weekly sessions delivered to the experimental group. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance and SPSS version 26. The results indicated that positive psychotherapy techniques training significantly reduced perceived stress and improved mental health and hope in mothers of children with leukemia (p<0.01). The intervention accounted for 89.4% of the variance in perceived stress reduction, 21.8% in mental health improvement, and 78.5% in hope enhancement. Positive psychotherapy techniques proved to be an effective intervention for reducing perceived stress and enhancing mental health and hope in mothers of children with leukemia, helping them better cope with the psychological burden of their child’s illness.