Comparison of the Effectiveness of Self-Compassion-Focused Therapy and Stress Inoculation Training on the Quality of Life of Parents of Children with Cancer
Keywords:
Self-Compassion-Focused Therapy, Stress Inoculation Training, Parents of Children with CancerAbstract
Given the psychological burden associated with a child's cancer diagnosis, enhancing the quality of life of parents is of considerable clinical importance. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Self-Compassion-Focused Therapy (SCFT) and Stress Inoculation Training (SIT) on the quality of life of parents of children with cancer. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group and a two-month follow-up period. The statistical population consisted of parents of children with cancer who attended medical and psychological treatment centers in Tehran in 2025. From this population, 45 participants were selected through convenience sampling and were randomly assigned to three groups of 15 participants each (two experimental groups and one control group). The research instrument was the Quality of Life Questionnaire developed by Weber (1992). The interventions included Self-Compassion-Focused Therapy based on Gilbert’s protocol (2012) and Stress Inoculation Training based on Meichenbaum’s program, each delivered in 10 weekly group sessions. Data were analyzed using mixed-design repeated-measures analysis of variance. The results indicated that both interventions significantly improved quality of life compared with the control group, and these effects remained stable at the follow-up assessment (p < .05). No significant difference was observed between the effectiveness of the two treatment approaches. These findings suggest that both Self-Compassion-Focused Therapy and Stress Inoculation Training can be used as effective supportive interventions to enhance the quality of life of parents of children with cancer.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Shadi Salehi (Author); Afsaneh Taheri; Farah Lotfi Kashani (Author)
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