The Relationship Between Mindfulness and Social Anxiety with the Mediating Role of Metacognitive Beliefs in Mothers of Children with Autism and Intellectual Disability

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between mindfulness and social anxiety with the mediating role of metacognitive beliefs in mothers of children with autism and intellectual disability. In terms of purpose, the research was applied, and in terms of data collection, it employed a descriptive correlational design based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all mothers of children with autism and intellectual disability in Behshahr County, totaling ۶۱۸ individuals, from whom ۲۳۷ participants were selected as the sample based on the Krejcie and Morgan table using convenience sampling. Standardized questionnaires—including the Wells and Cartwright-Hatton Metacognitions Questionnaire (۲۰۰۴) (α = ۰.۷۹), the Connor et al. Social Anxiety Questionnaire (۲۰۰۰) (α = ۰.۸۲), and the Baer et al. Mindfulness Questionnaire (۲۰۰۶) (α = ۰.۸۸)—were used as research instruments. For data analysis, descriptive statistics included frequency tables and charts, percentage frequencies, and means; inferential statistics included the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test to assess the normality of variables and correlation coefficients and structural equation modeling to test the research hypotheses, using SPSS ۲۲ and SmartPLS software at a ۹۵% confidence level. The results indicated a significant relationship between mindfulness and social anxiety with the mediating role of metacognitive beliefs in mothers of children with autism and intellectual disability. Additionally, there was a significant negative relationship between mindfulness and metacognitive beliefs with social anxiety in mothers of children with autism and intellectual disability, and a significant negative relationship between mindfulness and metacognitive beliefs in these mothers. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between mindfulness and social anxiety with the mediating role of metacognitive beliefs in mothers of children with autism and intellectual disability. In terms of purpose, the research was applied, and in terms of data collection, it employed a descriptive correlational design based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all mothers of children with autism and intellectual disability in Behshahr County, totaling ۶۱۸ individuals, from whom ۲۳۷ participants were selected as the sample based on the Krejcie and Morgan table using convenience sampling. Standardized questionnaires—including the Wells and Cartwright-Hatton Metacognitions Questionnaire (۲۰۰۴) (α = ۰.۷۹), the Connor et al. Social Anxiety Questionnaire (۲۰۰۰) (α = ۰.۸۲), and the Baer et al. Mindfulness Questionnaire (۲۰۰۶) (α = ۰.۸۸)—were used as research instruments. For data analysis, descriptive statistics included frequency tables and charts, percentage frequencies, and means; inferential statistics included the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test to assess the normality of variables and correlation coefficients and structural equation modeling to test the research hypotheses, using SPSS ۲۲ and SmartPLS software at a ۹۵% confidence level. The results indicated a significant relationship between mindfulness and social anxiety with the mediating role of metacognitive beliefs in mothers of children with autism and intellectual disability. Additionally, there was a significant negative relationship between mindfulness and metacognitive beliefs with social anxiety in mothers of children with autism and intellectual disability, and a significant negative relationship between mindfulness and metacognitive beliefs in these mothers.

کلیدواژه ها:

Mindfulness ، Social Anxiety ، Metacognitive Beliefs ، Mothers of Children with Autism and Intellectual Disability