Using Acceptance and Commitment Training in the Support of Parents of Children Diagnosed with Autism

• Published in: Child & family behavior therapy Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 1 - 18
• Main Authors: Blackledge, John T., Hayes, Steven C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Binghamton, NY Taylor & Francis Group 14.03.2006; The Haworth Press Inc; Haworth Press; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: acceptance; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Adjustment (to Environment); Autism; Beck Depression Inventory; Biological and medical sciences; Child clinical studies; Children; Children & youth; Coping; Counseling Effectiveness; Counseling Techniques; defusion; Depression (Psychology); Developmental disorders; Infantile autism; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; parental stress; Parents; Parents & parenting; Program Effectiveness; Psychological Needs; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychotherapy; Treatments; Workshops; Social environment; Human; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Acceptance; Parent; Personal commitment; Developmental disorder; Stress; Parent child relation; Autism; Treatment; parental stress; Social interaction; Family environment; defusion; Coping; Child; Social support
• ISSN: 0731-7107; 1545-228X
• DOI: 10.1300/J019v28n01_01

Parents of autistic children face enormous challenges, but very little attention has been paid to their psychological needs. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has previously been tested with parents as part of a comprehensive package, but not yet alone. The present study used a within-subject, repeated measures design to test the effects of a 2-day (14 hour) group ACT workshop on 20 normal parents/guardians of children diagnosed with autism. Parents were assessed three weeks before the workshop, one week before, one week after, and three months after. No significant change occurred while waiting for treatment, but pre to post improvements were found on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and the Global Severity Index (GSI) of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Significant pre to follow-up improvements were observed on the BDI-II, BSI, and the General Health Questionnaire-12. Processes measures of experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion also changed and there was some evidence that these changes mediated outcomes seen. Results suggest that ACT may have promise in helping parents better adjust to the difficulties in raising children diagnosed with autism.