Proposed Training Program for Developing Mothers' Skills in Reducing the Problems of Children with Autism

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify the following: •The level of problems among children with autism. •Developing a proposed training program to develop mothers' skills in reducing the problems of children with autism. At the beginning of the study, the researcher adopted the descriptive-analytical approach to formulate the theoretical framework, determine the study population and sample, and construct the scale used in the study. The study population consisted of mothers of children with autism attending rehabilitation centers distributed across three governorates, totaling (486) mothers. The statistical analysis sample consisted of (400) mothers. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher constructed a scale of problems among children with autism based on the Theory of Mind developed by David Premack and Guy Woodruff (Premack & Woodruff, 1978). In its final form, the scale consisted of (24) items. Its validity, reliability, and discriminatory power were verified. The researcher then designed a proposed training program based on behavioral therapy, and its validity was verified. To analyze the data and obtain the results, appropriate statistical methods were employed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results concerning the first objective indicated the existence of statistically significant differences at the level of (0.05) between the arithmetic mean of the Autism Child Problems Scale and its hypothetical mean, indicating a high level of problems among children with autism. Regarding the second objective, this objective was achieved through the development of a proposed training program to develop mothers' skills in reducing the problems of children with autism, as presented in Appendix 5. It should be noted that the researcher did not implement the training program but only developed it. Based on the findings of the study, a number of recommendations and suggestions were presented.