Objective: The family, as the first and most fundamental social institution, plays a pivotal role in shaping children’s personality as well as their emotional and social development. In this context, parents—particularly mothers—provide the foundation for healthy psychological growth by creating a secure and accepting environment for their children. However, when a child develops a psychological disorder, this delicate balance is profoundly disrupted, and the family faces complex challenges that affect not only the child but the entire family system. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on the communication patterns of mothers with children diagnosed with Separation Anxiety Disorder.
Methods: This study employed a descriptive, quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and a two-month follow-up period. The statistical population consisted of mothers of children with Separation Anxiety Disorder who attended counseling centers in Isfahan during the 2025 year. A total of 30 mothers were selected through purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. Data were collected using the Child–Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS) developed by Pianta (1992). The ACT intervention was administered to the experimental group in the form of eight weekly 60-minute group sessions. The collected data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS version 24. Statistical significance was considered at p < .05.
Results: The results indicated that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy had a significant effect on all three communication patterns across all stages of the study (p < .05). Furthermore, the interaction effect of group and time was significant for all three components (p < .05). These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of ACT in improving communication patterns at both the posttest and follow-up stages compared with the control group.
Conclusion:
By emphasizing committed and value-oriented action, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy enables mothers to shape their communication behaviors based on long-term goals and personal values rather than immediate emotional reactions or situational pressures. This process contributes to greater stability and predictability in their communication patterns.