Effects of a brief mindfulness-infused behavioral parent training for mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Abstract A concurrent randomized multiple baseline across three mother-child dyads single-case design was employed to evaluate the effects of a brief mindfulness-infused behavioral parent training program. The program included strategies embedded within the context of natural family routines. Three mothers and their children with autism spectrum disorder participated. At the individual tier level, visual analysis revealed moderately positive results for two mother-child dyads and contraindicated results for maternal self-reported stress in one dyad. At the study level, standardized mean difference analyses yielded a medium effect for increases in behavioral strategy use and small-moderate effects for decreases in parent stress and child challenging behavior. Implications for continued research and applications of the program for families of children with ASD are discussed.