IRCT20130721014086N18 IRCT 2026-10-09 Kashan University of Medical Sciences The effect of Mandela art therapy on psychological problems Investigating the effect of Mandela art therapy on psychological problems of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder 2026-10-20 anticipated 64 Recruiting https://irct.ir/trial/93575 interventional Randomization: Randomized, Blinding: Not blinded, Placebo: Not used, Assignment: Parallel, Purpose: Supportive, Randomization description: Samples are made in blocks of four and six using Sealed Envelope Ltd software. 2017 available through www.sealedenvelope.com are assigned to two intervention and control groups. N/A Condition 1: Anxiety. Condition 2: Sleep quality. Intervention 1: Intervention group: The intervention is based on Jungian mandala art therapy and follows the Mandala Coloring Therapy (MCT) framework. Each session comprises four main components: introduction and relaxation (10 minutes), mandala coloring (30–40 minutes), guided reflection and group discussion (10–15 minutes), and summary with homework assignment (5–10 minutes). Pre-designed A4 mandalas of gradually increasing complexity are colored using colored pencils, markers, or crayons according to participants' personal preferences; they are encouraged to use three to five colors and to continue coloring from the center toward the outer layers. Following the coloring activity, a guided reflection and group discussion session is facilitated by the researcher to enhance self-awareness, emotion regulation, and personal insight. Intervention 2: Control group: In the control group, mothers are provided with an educational pamphlet based on the National Autistic Society’s guidelines on caring for children with this disorder. No - There is not a plan to make this available Justification or reason for not sharing IPD is The data will be shared upon request and if necessary through the corresponding author. In general, however, given the sensitive nature of the psychological data (depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep quality) and the specific population under study (mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder), maintaining the confidentiality and trust of participants is of paramount importance, and sharing data—even in de-identified form—may compromise this trust.