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Logging On: Evaluating an Online Support Group for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

Twenty mothers participated in an online support group for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. Twenty-five unrelated parents participated in a no-treatment control group. The participants completed online questionnaires prior to and following the 4-month support group, to evaluate changes in mood, anxiety, parenting stress, and positive perceptions. No significant differences between the groups or across time were found. However, parents who participated in the group reported being satisfied with the support they received and finding the group helpful. Issues related to participant recruitment and retention are discussed. Further research is required to investigate the efficacy of online support groups for parents of children with ASD.

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Notes

  1. Listservs allow participants to share information by sending messages to the email addresses of subscribers.

  2. These categories were not mutually exclusive; some parents indicated that their child had both Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was prepared as part of Tessen Clifford’s doctoral dissertation. Special thanks to Dr. Beth Kelley and Dr. Kevin Parker for their support in the development of this project. The first author was supported through a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada CGS Doctoral Scholarship [Award # 767-2008-2150] and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship.

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Correspondence to Tessen Clifford.

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Clifford, T., Minnes, P. Logging On: Evaluating an Online Support Group for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 1662–1675 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1714-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1714-6

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