Online Mindfulness-based Program for Parents of Children With Autism

San Jose State University

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Mindfulness; Psychophysiologic Reaction; Behavior, Health

Treatments: Behavioral: Online Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05913869

22124

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of the project is to investigate the effects of online 8-week MBSR intervention on diverse parents to support their children with ASD. The investigators will conduct a randomized waitlist-controlled trial with a sample size 22 parents. This study utilizes psychological, behavioral and psychophysiological measures with parents of children with ASD ages 6-12. The first aim is to determine if parents of children with autism from diverse populations are willing participate in and complete an online MBSR program and if online delivery is as effective as in-person program. The battery of parental-report psychological assessments to measure resilience, parental sleep and stress as well as children's behaviors will be administered before and after the treatment. The second aim is to investigate the effects of a virtual MBSR intervention on cardiovascular and sympathetic nervous activity measured by continuous EDA and EKG. Participants will participate in a validated laboratory stress protocol consisting of mental arithmetic and speech tasks before and after the MBSR intervention.

Full description

After the participants eligibility are confirmed, their signatures will be obtained on the consent form. Three data collection phases are included in this protocol: baseline, post 3 months and post 6 months. All tests are identical in which phase. Each test includes a survey packet and the lab experiment. The surveys packet includes: the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale, Parenting Stress Index - 4th edition Short Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Adult Sensory Processing Scale, Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, and WHO Quality of Life-BREF. For the lab experiment, EKG and EDA data will be collected through lab protocol, which include a 5-min baseline recording followed by Trier Social Stress Test (speaking, math test) and then another 5-min rest period. After that, a pre-recorded 15-min mindfulness practice will be played for the participants to practice. After completing the baseline test, participants will be randomly grouped into the MBSR group or the waitlist controlled group. The online MBSR program is a 8-week group-based, intervention, which will be delivered by a UMASS trained MBSR instructor.

Enrollment: 24 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21 to 64 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• have a child aged 6-12 years old that has been diagnosed by a psychiatrist or a psychologist with autism spectrum disorder
• English speaking
• parents do not receive any form of psychological or behavioral treatment at the time of referral
• parents have never participated in a MBSR workshop prior to the enrollment
• parents do not have previous meditation experience
• parents do not have a severe mental illness (self-assessed),
• parents agree to participate in the 8-week MBSR intervention

Exclusion criteria

• parents who currently receive psychotherapy or take medications for health issues

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Sequential Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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24 participants in 2 patient groups

Online MBSR 1

Experimental group

Description:

received modified online 8-week group-based MBSR intervention delivered by a UMASS trained MBSR instructor

Treatment:

Behavioral: Online Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Waitlist control

Active Comparator group

Description:

On a waiting list to receive the identical intervention as the treatment group after the active treatment group completes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Online Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction