Effect of attachment-based therapy training on intimacy and alexithymia in parents of children with intellectual disabilities

Parents of children with Intellectual Disabilities obviously and undeniably experience the same love and joy for their children, but they also have an increased risk of encountering stressors (e.g., high medical costs), anxiety, and depression. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of attachment-based therapy training on increasing intimacy and alexithymia of the parents of intellectual disabilities children. 30 parents were randomly selected. They were then randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group participated in 8 sessions of attachment-based therapy and control group received no intervention. The research design was quasi-experimental. The research findings revealed a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group concerning the degree of intimacy. However, no significant contrast was found in terms of the Alexithymia. With respect to findings of the current study, it can be concluded that training based upon the attachment style can lead to intimacy increase among parents of mentally retarded children.