ABSTRACT
A non-concurrent multiple baseline design in conjunction with a within-subject group design was used in this extension study employing an asynchronous and synchronous model to deliver an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) training program for parents of children with Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were five parents who completed a six-week online ACT parent training delivered asynchronously and synchronously followed by a two-week maintenance phase. Each session included specific topics and exercises which were: (a) values identification;(b) present moment awareness;(c) defusion;(d) the Matrix (moving toward/away);(e) committed action;and (f) self-care. Pretest and posttest measures were completed by the participants which assessed parental stress (Abidin, 1995;PSI-4-SF), psychological flexibility (Bond et al., 2011;AAQ-II), self-compassion (Neff et al., 2021;SC-SF) and child behaviors (Sparrow et al., 2016;VABS-3, Maladaptive Behavior Domain). To summarize the findings, participant data indicated improvements in parental stress, self-compassion, and psychological flexibility from pre- to post-intervention. Additionally, parent overt value directed behaviors increased from baseline through intervention and were maintained post-treatment. Child behavior outcomes varied across the children of parent participants but overall had an increasing trend for desired behavior and a decreasing trend for maladaptive behavior. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
A non-concurrent multiple baseline design in conjunction with a within-subject group design was used in this extension study employing an asynchronous and synchronous model to deliver an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) training program for parents of children with Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were five parents who completed a six-week online ACT parent training delivered asynchronously and synchronously followed by a two-week maintenance phase. Each session included specific topics and exercises which were: (a) values identification;(b) present moment awareness;(c) defusion;(d) the Matrix (moving toward/away);(e) committed action;and (f) self-care. Pretest and posttest measures were completed by the participants which assessed parental stress (Abidin, 1995;PSI-4-SF), psychological flexibility (Bond et al., 2011;AAQ-II), self-compassion (Neff et al., 2021;SC-SF) and child behaviors (Sparrow et al., 2016;VABS-3, Maladaptive Behavior Domain). To summarize the findings, participant data indicated improvements in parental stress, self-compassion, and psychological flexibility from pre- to post-intervention. Additionally, parent overt value directed behaviors increased from baseline through intervention and were maintained post-treatment. Child behavior outcomes varied across the children of parent participants but overall had an increasing trend for desired behavior and a decreasing trend for maladaptive behavior. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)