Effectiveness of resilience teaching via short message service on stress of mothers of educable mentally retarded children

Abstract

Background: Caring of mentally retarded children at home is a challenging event and negatively affects family mental health. Objectives: Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of resilience teaching via short message service (SMS) on stress of mothers of educable mentally retarded children. Methods: In this field trial study, 70 mothers with educable mentally retarded children were selected through the convenience sampling method. They were then assigned into two groups of intervention and control through block random allocation. Mothers in the intervention group received four text messages each day, totally 180 messages within 1.5 months. The Abidin Short Form Parenting Stress Index and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale were filled out by mothers in both groups of intervention and control at baseline and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS21, by descriptive and inferential test, considering the 95% confidence interval. Results: The mean of stress scores was 126 ± 23.9 and 129.3 ± 21.8 in the SMS and control groups, respectively before the intervention, and 86.08 ± 18.5 and 135.2 ± 23.1, respectively after the intervention (P < 0.05). In addition, the mean of resilience scores was 28.17 ± 10.82 and 25.89 ± 10.3 in the SMS and control groups, respectively before the intervention, and 57.62 ± 7.42 and 22.2 ± 8.17, respectively after the intervention (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Teaching of resilience via short message service can reduce stress in mothers of educable mentally retarded children. In addition, since, the purposeful communication of client and nurse is a main issue in nursing, nurses can benefit from this education method for clients.