Effectiveness of an Online Psychological Support Program for Mothers of Children With Autism

NCT07757295 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ACTParentsAutism
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 181
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study to evaluate the effectiveness of an online psychological support program for mothers of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this study, investigators aim to assess the impact of the psychological support program on mothers' mental health and parenting stress levels, investigate the factors associated with changes in parenting stress, and examine the effect of reduced parenting stress on children's behavioral problems and the severity of autism.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Parenting; Well-Being; Psychological

Keywords

ASD, ACT, Parent, Well-Being

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Changes in Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

  The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) is a 21-item self-report questionnaire assessing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0-3). Scores for each subscale range from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity. The total score ranges from 0 to 126, with higher scores indicating greater overall psychological distress. The scale will be administered at baseline (T1), at the end of the 5-week intervention (T2), and at the 6-week follow-up (T3) in the intervention group. The control group will be assessed at T1 and T2 only. Changes in scores from T1 to T2 will be compared between groups using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for baseline values. Within-group changes across T1, T2, and T3 will also be evaluated in the intervention group.

  Baseline (T1), End of Week 5 (T2), End of Week 11 (T3)

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Changes in Parenting Stress

  Baseline (T1), End of Week 5 (T2), End of Week 11 (T3)

• Changes in Autistic Traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient-10, AQ-10)

  Baseline (T1), End of Week 5 (T2), End of Week 11 (T3)

• Changes in Psychological Flexibility (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, AAQ-II)

  Baseline (T1), End of Week 5 (T2), End of Week 11 (T3)

• Changes in Cognitive Fusion (Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire, CFQ)

  Baseline (T1), End of Week 5 (T2), End of Week 11 (T3)

• Changes in Autism Severity (Social Responsiveness Scale, SRS)

  Baseline (T1), End of Week 5 (T2)

Study Arms (2)

The intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

Parents in the intervention group will participate in a 5-week Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Based Parent Support Program. Six weeks after the program completion, they will attend a follow-up session for additional support.

Behavioral: Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Parent Support Program

The control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants assigned to the control group will not receive the intervention during the study period. They will remain on a waitlist and will receive the online ACT-based parent support program after completion of the post-intervention assessment.

Interventions

Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Parent Support Program BEHAVIORAL

The sessions are structured around the core ACT skills (contact with the present moment, acceptance, defusion, values, commitment, and contextual self). Each session includes stages of information sharing, exemplification, meditation practice, feedback, and group discussion. The topics and practices are derived from standardized content commonly used in ACT groups. After each session, home exercises related to the weekly topic are provided, and feedback on these exercises is gathered from participants at the beginning of the next session. Audio recordings for the meditation practices are created and sent to participants via email.

The intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 2 Years - 11 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• The participant must have at least one child with a clinically confirmed diagnosis of ASD.
• The child with autism must be between 2 and 11 years of age.
• Parents must be able to speak and read Turkish sufficiently.
• Parents must agree not to participate in any other mental health support program during the study.

You may not qualify if:

• Incomplete completion of the scales
• The child with autism is not between the ages of 2 and 11
• Parents are participating in another mental health support program.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sabri Hergüner: lead
• Herguner Therapy Private Clinic: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Hergüner Therapy Private Clinic

Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Sabri Hergüner, Assoc.Prof.

  Herguner Tharapy Private Clinic

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor Dr Sabri Hergüner

Model Details: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will be included in the study. The parents will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. Participants from both groups will be asked to complete the forms one week before the intervention begins (T1). While the intervention group participates in the training, the control group will wait for the program to begin. After the intervention group completes the training, both groups will fill out the forms again (T2). Six weeks after the program ends, participants in the intervention group will be asked to complete the forms once more (T3).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 25, 2024
• First Posted: August 11, 2026
• Study Start: January 5, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 28, 2025
• Study Completion: April 30, 2025
• Last Updated: August 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)