EMPOWER-ND
Project EMPOWER-Neuro Developmental Disabilities (ND): Single Session Support for Parents of Children Struggling With Anxious Avoidance
Sponsor study identifier
interventional
50
1 country
1
Study Start
November 2026
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Primary Completion
December 2027
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Study Completion
December 2027
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
This study will inform the development of a brief online program to help parents better understand and respond to anxiety-related behaviors in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, and learning disorders). Many neurodiverse children experience high levels of anxiety, which can appear as avoidance, emotional distress, or challenging behaviors that are difficult for parents to interpret and manage. The purpose of this research is to evaluate EMPOWER-ND with its digital, single-session intervention (SSI) that provides practical parenting strategies for addressing anxiety-related behaviors in neurodiverse children. Parents of eligible children aged 5-14 with neurodevelopmental conditions will be invited to enroll in the research study.
Registry-reported information. Elapsed time and enrollment totals alone do not measure study progress or recruitment pace.
December 2027
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
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Dates and qualifiers reported by the registry. Estimated dates do not confirm that a milestone has occurred.
October 20, 2026
Actual (reported)October 27, 2026
Actual (reported)November 2026
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
December 2027
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
December 2027
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Acceptability of program content
This outcome will be assessed by responses on the Program Feedback Scale (PFS), a 7-item self-report questionnaire to measure youth and participant acceptability, feasibility, and satisfaction with digital single-session interventions (SSIs). Response format is a 5-point Likert scale (Strongly Disagree (1) to Strongly Agree (5)). Total scores range from 7 to 35, with higher scores associated with greater program acceptability.
baseline, 2-weeks, 4-weeks, 8-weeks
Utility of the program
Utility will be assessed by the Family Accommodation Scale - Anxiety (FASA) questionnaire. FASA is a 9-item measure of how often family members change their own behavior to help a child avoid or ease anxiety. Each item is rated from 0 (never) to 4 (daily). Total score ranges from 0 to 36, with higher scores meaning more accommodation.
baseline, 2-weeks, 4-weeks, 8-weeks
Participants will receive the EMPOWER-ND intervention to assist children struggling with anxious avoidance
The intervention has 5 core components: (1) psychoeducation on anxiety in the context of neurodiversity; (2) psychoeducation on the cycle of anxious avoidance and accommodation; (3) identifying "sweet spot" challenges; (4) teaching validation and empathy for encouragement; and (5) how to troubleshoot common challenges.
Boston University Charles River Campus
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Jenna Sung, PhD
BU Charles River Campus, Counseling Psychology & Applied Human Development
First Submitted
October 20, 2026
First Posted
October 27, 2026
Study Start
November 2026
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Primary Completion
December 2027
EstimatedPromoting Physical Activity Among Young Children With Autism
Child avoidance behaviors
Child Avoidance Measure-Parent Report (CAMP), an 8-item questionnaire about how often the child avoids situations that make them anxious, scared, or worried. Each item is rated from 0 (almost never) to 3 (almost always), and items are summed for a total score from 0 to 24. Higher scores reflect greater avoidance.
baseline, 2-weeks, 4-weeks, 8-weeks
Feasibility of the program
Completion rates will be used to assess feasibility.
baseline, 2-weeks, 4-weeks, 8-weeks
Assessment of anxiety and related disorders
baseline 2-weeks, 4-weeks, 8-weeks
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Planned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Study Completion
December 2027
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Last Updated
October 27, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-10
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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov.
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