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A Virtual Resiliency Intervention for Parents of Children with Autism: A Randomized Pilot Trial

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Abstract

Parents of children with Autism experience high levels of stress. Resiliency is the ability to cope and adapt when faced with stressful events. This randomized, waitlist controlled pilot trial examines the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an adapted virtual mind–body group intervention for parents of children with ASD. The intervention was feasible and acceptable. The immediate treatment group showed no difference in distress and greater improvement in resiliency and stress reactivity/coping relative to the delayed treatment group, (M difference 5.78; p = .038 and M difference 7.78; p = .001 respectively). Findings showed promising feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy for parents of children with ASD.

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Funding

This project was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under cooperative agreement UA3 MC11054 – Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. This work was conducted through the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network serving as the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health.

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Author notes

  1. Emma Chad-Friedman

    Present address: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

  2. Jacqueline Proszynski

    Present address: Pratt Institute, New York, NY, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Rachel A. Millstein, Giselle K. Perez, Emma Chad-Friedman, Jacqueline Proszynski & Elyse R. Park

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, 125 Nashua Street Suite 860, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Karen A. Kuhlthau & Olivia J. Lindly

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Karen A. Kuhlthau & Olivia J. Lindly

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Christina M. Luberto, Lara Traeger, Rachel A. Millstein, Giselle K. Perez & Elyse R. Park

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  1. Karen A. Kuhlthau
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Contributions

KAK conceived of the study, participated in the interpretation of the data, drafted the manuscript, participated in the study design and implementation; CML, RAM, GKP participated in the study design, implementation, and data interpretation, and contributed to the manuscript text; OJL participated in the interpretation of the data and manuscript preparation; LT performed the statistical analyses and contributed to the interpretation of the data and contributed to the manuscript text; EC and JP participated in the study implementation, data interpretation, and manuscript preparation; ERP conceived of the study, participated in the study design and the interpretation of the data and helped draft the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karen A. Kuhlthau.

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Kuhlthau, K.A., Luberto, C.M., Traeger, L. et al. A Virtual Resiliency Intervention for Parents of Children with Autism: A Randomized Pilot Trial. J Autism Dev Disord 50, 2513–2526 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-03976-4

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