Date of Award

2-2021

Document Type

Doctoral Research Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Victoria Follette

Second Advisor

Richard Elmore

Third Advisor

Kimberly N. Sloman

Fourth Advisor

Robert Taylor

Abstract

The present study utilized a brief mindfulness-based intervention to examine the relationship between psychological/behavioral factors, such as mindfulness and self-compassion, in improving parental stress, psychological well-being, and behavioral outcomes in parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Four parents of children with ASD engaged in a 3-session mindfulness-based intervention that included psychoeducation on mindfulness and self-compassion skills, experiential exercises, and implementation of mindfulness and self-compassion skills in parenting vignettes. Measurements included the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), Parental Stress Index-4 Short Form (PSI-4 SF), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), and behavioral mindfulness and self-compassion. Using an A-B single subject design, results supported gradual increases in psychological/behavioral mindfulness and self-compassion scores in parents of children with ASD after receiving mindfulness and self-compassion training. Additionally, there were no overall improvements in total parental stress as a result of the mindfulness-based intervention; however, results indicated mild improvements in psychological health, and, thus, well-being.

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