The Effectiveness of Reality Therapy on Depression and Self-efficacy in Mothers of Children with Down syndrome (Tehran)

This study examines the effectiveness of real-world therapy for depression and self-efficacy among mothers of children with Down syndrome. This is an applied quasi-experimental study that utilized a pre-test and post-test design involving an experimental group receiving reality therapy training and a control group. The target population comprises all mothers of children with Down syndrome in Tehran. A total of 31 mothers who presented low scores for both depression and self-efficacy were selected through convenience sampling and cluster random sampling methods and then divided into two groups: 15 participants in the experimental group and 16 in the control group. The experimental group participated in seven 60-minute sessions of group reality therapy, whereas the control group received no intervention. The research employed the Beck Depression Inventory (1996) and Beck's Self-Esteem Scale (1978) as assessment tools. The research methodology followed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test phases alongside a control group, utilizing covariance analysis for data interpretation. Findings: The results revealed that participating in group reality therapy significantly improved self-efficacy scores while reducing depression levels among mothers in the experimental group. Conclusion: Given that reality therapy fosters internal control within individuals and encourages them to actively pursue meaningful life changes, it promotes openness to change which enhances overall vitality and hopefulness. Consequently, this approach can significantly improve self-efficacy and alleviate depression among mothers caring for children with Down syndrome.