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

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.