A1 Journal article (refereed)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group Intervention for Parents of Children with Disabilities (Navigator ACT) : An Open Feasibility Trial (2023)

Holmberg, B. T., Renhorn, E., Berg, B., Lappalainen, P., Ghaderi, A., & Hirvikoski, T. (2023). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group Intervention for Parents of Children with Disabilities (Navigator ACT) : An Open Feasibility Trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(5), 1834-1849. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05490-6

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Holmberg, Bergman T.; Renhorn, E.; Berg, B.; Lappalainen, P.; Ghaderi, A.; Hirvikoski, T.

Journal or series: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

ISSN: 0162-3257

eISSN: 1573-3432

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 03/03/2022

Volume: 53

Issue number: 5

Pages range: 1834-1849

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05490-6

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/80521

Abstract

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities report high levels of distress, but systematically evaluated interventions are few. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a novel, manualized Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group intervention (Navigator ACT) in a sample of 94 parents of children with disabilities. Feasibility was measured by treatment completion, credibility, and satisfaction, and preliminary outcomes by using self-rating scales administered at the baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. The results imply the intervention is feasible in the context of Swedish outpatient habilitation services. A preliminary analysis of the outcome measures suggests that parents experienced significant improvements in well-being. The results indicate that the treatment is feasible and should be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.

Keywords: parents; mental well-being; stress (biological phenomena); acceptance and commitment therapy; group therapy; children (family members); disability; autism spectrum disorders

Free keywords: parental stress; parental distress; autism spectrum disorder; disability; treatment; feasibility

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2022

JUFO rating: 2