Impact of Autogenic Relaxation Therapy on Psychological Parameters and Salivary Cortisol Levels Among Mothers of Special Children.

This article investigates the impact of Autogenic Relaxation Therapy (ART) on psychological parameters—stress, anxiety, and depression—and salivary cortisol levels among mothers of children with intellectual disabilities. In a quasi-experimental study involving 200 mothers, the experimental group received ART twice weekly for eight weeks, resulting in significant reductions in stress (21.5%), anxiety (30.39%), depression (27.68%), and salivary cortisol (41%), a biological marker of stress, compared to increases in these measures in the control group. The findings demonstrate strong correlations between cortisol levels and psychological distress, suggesting ART’s effectiveness in improving both mental health and physiological stress responses in this population. Limitations include the sample size and study duration, indicating a need for further research on long-term effects and broader applicability.