This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Open AccessArticle
Effectiveness of the Mindful Motherhood Support Program on Quality of Life Among Palestinian Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Quasi-Experimental Study
by
Bashaer Al-Natsheh
Bashaer Al-Natsheh
Asma Imam
Asma Imam 
Faculty of Public Health, AL-Quds University, Jerusalem 51000, Palestine
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23010014 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 30 September 2025
/
Revised: 29 November 2025
/
Accepted: 9 December 2025
/
Published: 20 December 2025
Abstract
Raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents severe difficulties that adversely affect the mother’s quality of life (QoL). However, very limited research has examined the impacts of support programs on the QoL of mothers of children with ASD in the Palestinian context. This study assesses the effectiveness of Mindful Motherhood, a comprehensive intervention, in improving QoL in this population. A quasi-experimental design was employed, with 56 mothers assigned to experimental or control groups. Quality of Life (QoL) was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF at baseline, post-intervention, and at a six-month follow-up. The 12-week group-based program led to significant improvements in all QoL domains for the experimental group compared to the controls, with the highest effect sizes in psychological (|δ| = 0.70) and overall QoL (|δ| = 0.68) domains; furthermore, these gains were largely sustained at the six-month follow-up assessment. The results are expected to inform policymakers in developing sustainable support systems for mothers and promoting inclusive, family-centered approaches to ASD care in the Palestinian context.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Al-Natsheh, B.; Imam, A.
Effectiveness of the Mindful Motherhood Support Program on Quality of Life Among Palestinian Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23, 14.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23010014
AMA Style
Al-Natsheh B, Imam A.
Effectiveness of the Mindful Motherhood Support Program on Quality of Life Among Palestinian Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Quasi-Experimental Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2026; 23(1):14.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23010014
Chicago/Turabian Style
Al-Natsheh, Bashaer, and Asma Imam.
2026. "Effectiveness of the Mindful Motherhood Support Program on Quality of Life Among Palestinian Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Quasi-Experimental Study" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 23, no. 1: 14.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23010014
APA Style
Al-Natsheh, B., & Imam, A.
(2026). Effectiveness of the Mindful Motherhood Support Program on Quality of Life Among Palestinian Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Quasi-Experimental Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(1), 14.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23010014
Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details
here.
Article Metrics
Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.
