A pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) study of a parent support program for parents of autistic children

INTERVENTION: Parents in the intervention group will commence a 5‐week online group program (one 2‐hour group session per week) aimed at developing parental insightfulness, parental acceptance, and understanding of autistic children (10 years and younger). Participants are allocated to online groups (approximately 3‐5 parents) where they will cover the following topics over the 5 weeks: Psychoeducation about autism grounded in the social disability model and neurodiversity affirming paradigm, values‐based parenting, parent‐child attachment relationship, parental acceptance as a gateway to child acceptance, mindfulness, psychological flexibility, self‐compassion. Activities such as mindful reflection of their own attachment history and how it applies to their current parenting and child‐focused mindfulness and acceptance exercises will be engaged in. Sessions are facilitated by a registered clinical psychologist. Participants attendance will also be recorded as part of intervention adherence monitoring. CONDITION: Mental Health ‐ Anxiety Mental Health ‐ Autistic spectrum disorders Mental Health ‐ Depression Mental Health ‐ Other mental health disorders Mental health of parents of autistic children ;Quality of life of parents of autistic children;Mental health of autistic children ;Parental well‐being of parents of autistic children ; ; Mental health of parents of autistic children ; Quality of life of parents of autistic children ; Mental health of autistic children ; Parental well‐being of parents of autistic children Public Health ‐ Health promotion/education PRIMARY OUTCOME: Parent‐reported child responsiveness and child involvement toward their caregiver as assessed by the Emotional Availability (EA) Scales and Emotional Availability Self‐Report (EA‐SR) [Baseline, immediately post intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion ] Parental sensitivity as assessed by the Emotional Availability (EA) Scales [Baseline, immediately post intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion ] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Participants will be parents of autistic children (10 years and younger) living in Australia. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Acceptability of the program as assessed via participant feedback survey which was designed specifically for the study.[Immediately post‐intervention completion] Feasibility of the program as assessed via attendance rates as determined by study logs. [Immediately post‐intervention completion] Feasibility of the program as assessed via qualitative feedback as per open‐ended questions in the participant feedback survey developed specifically for the study.[Immediately post‐intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion.] Feasibility of the program as assessed via recruitment rates. This will be determined via audit of study enrolment and withdrawal logs detailing participants' intervention completion and participant retention. [Immediately post‐intervention completion] Goal attainment as assessed by the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) [Baseline, immediately post intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion ] Mindful parenting as assessed by the Bangor Parenting Mindful Parenting Scale (BMPS) [Baseline, immediately post intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion ] Parent reported child behavioural flexibility as assessed by the Behaviour Flexibility Rating Scale – Revised (BFRS‐R) [Baseline, immediately post intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion ] Parent‐reported child adaptive functioning as assessed by the Autism Family Experience Questionnaire (AFEQ) [Baseline, immediately post intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion ] Parent‐reported child behavioural difficulties as assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)[Baseline, immediately post intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion ] Parental acceptance and understanding of their autistic child as assessed by the Parental Acceptance and Understanding of Autistic Children Scale (PAUACS) [Baseline, immediately post intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion ] Parental mental health as assessed by the Autism Family Experience Questionnaire (AFEQ).[Baseline, immediately post intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion ] Parental psychological adjustment as assessed by the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS‐21) [Baseline, immediately post intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion ] Parental psychological flexibility as assessed by the Comprehensive assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy processes (CompACT) [Baseline, immediately post intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion ] Parental quality of life as assessed by the Quality of Life in Autism Questionnaire (QoLA) [Baseline, immediately post intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion ] Parental wellbeing as assessed by the Autism Family Experience Questionnaire (AFEQ).[Baseline, immediately post intervention completion and 3‐months post intervention completion ]