Abstract: The aim of the present research was to assess the effectiveness of gratitude training on happiness in mothers of child with mental retardation. The research method was semi-empirical with pretest-post test, which was held on the control group. Research statistic population included mothers of mentally retarded children in Isfahan city in the year 2013.The research sample included about thirty two mother and were selected voluntary and placed in Two groups: Experimental and control. The instrument used where 29 items questionnaire of Oxford (2013). Experimental interference (gratitude training) was held on the experimental group. After finishing the training Program, post-test was held on both groups, for analyzing the data, covariance was used (mancova) analysis. Results showed that the mother&apos;s happiness level was increased appreciation of education

Amir Ghamarani

Maryam Tofangchi

CiteSeerX

 New York Science Journal 2013;6(12)           http://www.sciencepub.net/newyork 
 
98 
Effectiveness of gratitude training on happiness in mother of child with mental retardation 
 
Maryam Tofangchi1 (Corresponding author), Mohammadbagher Kajbaf2, Amir Ghamarani3 
 
1. M.A. in psychology, Isfahan Science &Research Branch,Islamic azad university, Isfahan, Iran 
2. Associate professor of Education, University of Isfahan. Isfahan, Iran 
3. Assistant professor of special Education, University of Isfahan. Isfahan, Iran  
tofangchi_m@yahoo.com 
 
Abstract: The aim of the present research was to assess the effectiveness of gratitude training on happiness in 
mothers of child with mental retardation. The research method was semi- empirical with pretest- post test, which 
was held on the control group. Research statistic population included mothers of mentally retarded children in 
Isfahan city in the year 2013.The research sample included about thirty two mother and were selected voluntary and 
placed in Two groups: Experimental and control. The instrument used where 29 items questionnaire of Oxford 
(2013). Experimental interference (gratitude training) was held on the experimental group. After finishing the 
training Program, post- test was held on both groups, for analyzing the data, covariance was used (mancova) 
analysis. Results showed that the mother's happiness level was increased appreciation of education. 
[Maryam Tofangchi, Mohammadbagher Kajbaf, Amir Ghamarani. Effectiveness of gratitude training on 
happiness in mother of child with mental retardation. N Y Sci J 2013;6(12):98-101]. (ISSN: 1554-0200). 
http://www.sciencepub.net/newyork. 16 
 
Keywords: Gratitude training, happiness, families with mentally retarded children 
 
 
1. Introduction 
Psychologists in the context of positive 
psychology try to answer the question of what to look 
for ways, to maintain good mental health, the 
importance of gratitude and realized it was seen as a 
source of psychic energy. Gratitude can be seen as an 
empathic emotion in response to a loss or benefit is 
obvious (Lazarus & Lazarus, 1994). Mac Kalouck et 
al. (2001), the recognition of a moral character, and 
they believe in moral gratitude perform the 
following: 1- controller moral; 2- Moral Motivation; 
3- The moral booster. In fact, gratitude is a form of 
love that has produced a catalytic role for the 
formation of new emotional ties (Imonez and Mac 
Kalouck, 2003). They also stated that the 
appreciation of the spiritual, psychological well-
being, happiness, life satisfaction, marital 
satisfaction, commitment to a spouse, dependent, and 
it is used in CBT (Mac Kalouck et al, 2002). Imonez 
and Mac Kalouck also believed that gratitude to 
communicate with others is essential, the ingratitude, 
causing restriction and monopoly (Imonez and Mac 
Kalouck, 2004).  Gratitude even Muslim religious 
sources approved, among which we can mention the 
following verses: "Grateful if you could increase your 
blessings" and" We gave Luqman wisdom, 
knowledge and authority, and we thank God and 
thank everyone says your source is right and who is 
ungrateful and the signs of God without and 
commendable traits " (The Holy Quran). Besides, 
expressing gratitude is associated with positive 
feelings and increase motivation (Park, 2009). Some 
psychologists believe that practicing gratitude leads 
to the reduction of negative and positive mood 
eruption (Learn et al, 2008). 
Mac Kalouck, Lykdatork, Imonz and Larsin 
(2001) showed that people feel more gratitude than 
others express their link with others and receive 
support from others increases the chances that it will 
also turn out to be social bonds it to expand. Also, 
gratitude makes people focus on what is life and to 
feel happy and more satisfied (Adler and Fagele, 
2005). On the other hand, people who have more 
happiness, peace and a sense of security, making it 
easier, the optimal amount of work and participate 
more, live more healthy and energetic, and ultimately 
have a satisfying life (Perisman and Cohen, 2005). 
Happiness lower blood pressure, more positive affect 
(Lyobomirski, King and Daynz, 2005) is related to 
the detection and interpretation of positive events. 
Happiness is comprised of three components: positive 
affect, absence of negative affect (e.g. depression and 
anxiety) and life satisfaction (the Liaghatdar et al, 
2008). Argayl (2003) believes that happiness is a 
sense of joy or server or other positive emotions, a 
sense of personal satisfaction with life and the 
absence of the third component in the absence of 
depression, anxiety or other negative emotions, as he 
was happy to replace the term subjective well-being. 
Some philosophers believed that happiness can be 
best achieved by suppressing passions and desires, 
while others, the key to realizing the desire of 
happiness knew (Frisch, 2006). 
 New York Science Journal 2013;6(12)           http://www.sciencepub.net/newyork 
 
99 
Happiness has consequences such as increased 
life expectancy; long term health and well-being are 
the incentive effects and can affect the action of 
thought led to the formation and extent of broader 
ways of thinking (Feredrikson, 2001). Relative to its 
peer group of happy people who are less happy, more 
sustainable and more successful marriages, more 
friends, higher incomes and better jobs, greater social 
activity and improved mental and physical health and 
longevity are the most (Lyobomerski et al, 2004). 
Since one of the factors in the happiness of 
having healthy children, Birth and the mental 
disabled children in families with special needs has 
always been the emergence of significant and 
controversial issues. During the investigation of the 
effects of mentally retarded children, can lead to loss 
of self-esteem, having two contradictory feelings, 
depression, inferiority and low mental health (Ross, 
2005, Goldberg 1986), Guilt (Volfers, 1965), the 
psychological atmosphere poisoned the family 
(Farber, 1975), there is a level of consistency and 
accepting less stress, more (Placht et al, 1999), with 
much heartache Khvdsrznshy (Damrouch and Perri, 
1989) and chronic depression (Flaherty and Galyden, 
2000) noted that all lead to a loss of happiness, 
especially their mothers. Fawcett and Sisour tell the 
parents of mentally retarded children with psychiatric 
problems are and many of them in the intense feeling 
of sadness and a feeling of despair and called 
recurrent been involved from the distant past 
confusion, loss and suffering they are experiencing 
(Fawcett, 2008). Given the importance of the welfare 
impact on different areas of life, discussing ways to 
create and enhance essential to happiness, especially 
in the family seems to be. Review of research 
conducted on the effectiveness of teaching the 
appreciation of the passage confirms the fact that the 
new style is more used to promote positive emotions 
and less severe mental disorders and is dedicated to 
the treatment of injuries. In fact, this research 
attempts to answer the question whether it is based 
teaching Gratitude Happiness mothers of mentally 
retarded children could be effective. 
 
Methods 
The study was quasi-experimental pre-test - 
post-test control group. The sample consisted of 32 
patients are sampling and availability of 
deferoxamine used to refer to an existing file, the 
Centre will provide a list of mothers of children with 
mental retardation. Then, 32 subjects voluntarily 
selected and randomly divided into control and 
experimental groups of 16 people after random 
assignment of participants to experimental and 
control groups, the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire 
pre-test conducted on the participants and the 
implementation independent variable (in gratitude), 
the post-test questionnaire was administered on them. 
Training - an acknowledgment of eight 90-minute 
sessions were conducted in groups of subjects in each 
session were as follows: 
  
The content of the training sessions Gratitude 
first session 
First introduced to the structure and purpose of the meetings, educational programs and 
definitions, concepts and appreciate the consequences 
Second session 
Education in various fields of appreciation (gratitude towards his wife, others, nature and 
God) and appreciate those characteristics. 
Third session 
Teaching styles and methods of expressing gratitude (appreciation of verbal, emotional 
appreciation, gratitude practice, gratitude and appreciation of cross-linked) and applying 
these methods in everyday life and to his wife, friends, acquaintances 
Fourth session 
Encourage subjects to self assess their character as "grateful" or "non-appreciative" 
Considering Educational Topics 
Fifth session 
Teaching Method "of writing letters of gratitude" to those who have a significant role in 
one's life 
Sixth session 
Read letters of appreciation by the students and discuss their feelings after experiencing 
this activity participants 
Seventh session 
Teaching Method "daily record of events based on the good and blessing", and gratitude 
toward this difficult and hard to place emphasis on live events 
Eighth session 
Reporting and recording incidents based on participants' experiences and discuss good 
and feeling blessed this work subjects Haps experience 
 
It should be noted that the training sessions were 
conducted twice in a week to 40 days. Classes begin in 
January and end in March. 
 
Tools 
Oxford Happiness Questionnaire: 
This tool Argayel et al. (1989) were built. Oxford 
Happiness Questionnaire 29 is a matter of choice, the 
 New York Science Journal 2013;6(12)           http://www.sciencepub.net/newyork 
 
100 
order of zero to three scoring options and a score 
between zero and 87 are each subject. Oxford 
Happiness Questionnaire in Iran Abedi et al (2006) on 
727 students of Isfahan University of the random 
sampling was selected through stratified, 
implementation and standardization. Scores obtained 
percentile ranks, Z and T become the standard norm 
table is available for students. The mean and standard 
deviation are 13.3 and 44.4, respectively (Abedi et al, 
2006). 
 
Results 
Demographic data revealed that subjects in the 
experimental group had the highest percentage of 
persons aged 41 to 50 years, with an abundance of 
37.5% frequency in the control group had the highest 
percentage of persons aged 31 to 40 years with a 
frequency of 43.8 percent. The experimental and 
control groups had the highest percentage of people 
under diploma frequency with the frequency of 43.8 
and 50 percent respectively. 
 
Table 1: homogeneity test of variance Levin Happiness 
Variable F ratio First df Second df Sig. 
Happiness 1.127 1 30 0.302 
Levine equalizing variance test for equality of variances is true happiness scores. 
 
Table 2: Comparison of mean and standard deviation Happiness in the control and experimental groups 
Statistical indicators 
Subscale 
Stage 
Experiment Control 
Average SD Average SD 
Happiness 
Pretest 6 2.90 5.60 4.15 
Posttest 35.69 2.59 6.42 3.99 
 
Results of Table 2 show the post-test scores Happiness is higher in the experimental group than the control group. 
 
Table 3: Effectiveness of Teaching Gratitude Happiness groups studied 
Source Sum of Square  df Mean square F sig Eta ratio Statistical power 
Happiness pretest (covariate) 152.450 1 152.450 7.406 0.011 0.203 0.749 
Group 8619.380 1 8619.380 718.706 0.001 0.935 1 
 
As the results in Table (4-6) shows the groups in 
the P<0.01, there is a significant difference. And given 
that the average Happiness score in the experimental 
group than the control group mean is higher. 
 
Discussion 
Based on the purpose of this study is to evaluate 
the efficacy of education based on the recognition 
Happiness mothers of mentally retarded children were 
the results showed a significant difference between 
mean scores of experimental group and control group 
at post-test there. Appreciation of the impact of 
interventions can promote Happiness research results 
Seligman, Parks, Stein Peterson (2005) Mac Caby - 
Fish (2009) pointed out. In this regard, the theory 
Ferouh et al (2009) noted that the modern field of 
gratitude interventions. The comprehensive research 
and theory to explain some of the results there and we 
are still learning in this area as intuitive. Seem to 
appreciate that as a positive emotion, in theory, develop 
and build Fredrickson is justifiable. Accordingly, in 
this study it was found that gratitude can increase 
Happiness is mentally retarded children. Possibility 
that interventions appreciated by people who appreciate 
the excitement increases, leading to Happiness is 
increased. 
It also appears that members of the intervention 
group due to the appreciation and enjoyment of a life 
orientation have experienced more Happiness as will 
be appreciated by one and shifted his attention to what 
life. So felt experiences satisfaction greater Happiness 
(Fagele Adler and 2005). 
Wood, Joseph and Lynely (2007) argue that 
people appreciate through the use of positive coping, 
greater Happiness and less stress they experience. In 
total, according to the accounts, the effectiveness of 
interventions seems to appreciate the Happiness 
possible. Population since subjects have been 
counseling clients in the generalizability of results to 
other groups should be considered cautious. In this 
study, a questionnaire to measure variables pencil - 
paper used and the restrictions on peer review tools 
such as questionnaires, behavioral issues, and this 
study is limited. Also in the present study to obtain 
honest responses anonymous questionnaire method was 
used. However, it is likely that some respondents 
provided answers to the community are friendly and 
favorable action, this could affect the results. 
 New York Science Journal 2013;6(12)           http://www.sciencepub.net/newyork 
 
101 
It is suggested that the effect of the appreciation 
in other categories ranging from special 
education, groups and has no problem being addressed 
and also used in other fields like industry training 
organizations and training opportunities should be 
considered. 
 
Acknowledgement 
This article is from a thesis and at the end, it is a 
necessity to gratitude all the people who helped us 
perform better, especially in the present study, we 
appreciation and thanks studied mothers. 
 
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Effectiveness of gratitude training on happiness in mother of child with mental retardation

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Effectiveness of gratitude training on happiness in mother of child with mental retardation

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