The Effectiveness of Positive Psychotherapy Techniques Training on Tolerance of Ambiguity and Quality of Life in Mothers of Children with Leukemia

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy techniques training on tolerance of ambiguity and quality of life in mothers of children with leukemia. The research adopted an applied, quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group structure. The statistical population included all mothers of children diagnosed with leukemia who visited Mahak Hospital in 2024. Thirty participants were selected using simple random sampling and were equally assigned to experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups. Inclusion criteria required that mothers be the primary caregivers of children aged 7 to 15 years, with at least three months since diagnosis. The experimental group received six sessions of positive psychotherapy techniques based on strengths identification, gratitude, storytelling, and constructive responding, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Multiple Stimulus Types Ambiguity Tolerance Scale-II (MSTAT-II) and the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Analysis was conducted using ANCOVA in SPSS-26 after confirming assumptions of normality, homogeneity of variances, and equality of covariance matrices. Results indicated a significant main effect of group on both dependent variables after controlling for pretest scores. For tolerance of ambiguity, the ANCOVA revealed F(1, 27) = 72.46, p < .001, η² = .72, indicating that the intervention explained 72% of the variance in posttest scores. For quality of life, results showed F(1, 27) = 88.34, p < .001, η² = .76, demonstrating that the intervention accounted for 76% of the variance in posttest outcomes. These findings confirm the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy in enhancing both tolerance of ambiguity and quality of life. The study concludes that positive psychotherapy techniques significantly improve psychological adaptability and well-being in mothers of children with leukemia. Integrating this approach into caregiver support programs may provide effective, strengths-based interventions to promote resilience and quality of life in high-stress caregiving contexts.