Effect of Cognitive‐Behavioural Strategies on Self‐Efficacy, Sense of Coherence and Psychological Ownership Among Nurses Caring for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomised Control Trial

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Nurses caring for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encounter unique challenges that can affect their psychological well‐being and professional efficacy. Cognitive‐Behavioural Strategies (CBS) are a promising approach to bolster the psychological resources of these nurses. Objectives This study sought to evaluate the effects of a structured CBS intervention on self‐efficacy, sense of coherence (SOC) and psychological ownership among nurses caring for children with ASD. Methods This open‐label, two‐arm, parallel, randomised controlled trial was conducted from December 2024. A total of 131 registered nurses caring for children with ASD were randomly allocated to an intervention group ( n = 65) or a control group ( n = 66). The intervention group received a 6‐week CBS programme. Outcomes were measured using the General Self‐Efficacy Scale, SOC Scale and Psychological Ownership Questionnaire at baseline and post‐intervention. Results After the intervention, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements compared to the control group in self‐efficacy ( t = 2.506, p < 0.05), SOC ( t = 3.936, p < 0.001) and psychological ownership ( t = 2.110, p < 0.05). Within‐group analyses indicated significant pre–post improvements in the intervention group across all measures, with large effect sizes for SOC and self‐efficacy, and a moderate effect size for psychological ownership. Conclusions The CBS intervention significantly improved self‐efficacy, SOC and psychological ownership among nurses caring for children with ASD. These findings highlight CBS as a valuable strategy for supporting nurses in specialised care settings, with potential benefits for both nurse well‐being and patient care quality. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06929858