Acceptance and Commitment Training for Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

What is the effect of an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)–based parenting program on parental stress among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?In this randomized clinical trial including 154 participants, the ACT-based parenting program plus usual care led to greater 6-month reductions in parental stress and in the emotional and behavioral problems of children with ASD, as well as improvements in psychological flexibility, parenting competence, and reduced parental depressive symptoms and anxiety. Reductions in parental depressive symptoms and anxiety were evident only in the immediate postintervention period when compared with usual care alone.These findings show that ACT-based parenting program was effective in reducing parental stress, suggesting that further testing in more diverse groups of parents is warranted.

Corresponding Author: Wai Tong Chien, PhD, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Chung Chi Campus, 7th Floor, Esther Lee Building, Shatin, NT, New Territories NA, Hong Kong (wtchien@cuhk.edu.hk).

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