Parent training intervention for autism symptoms, functional emotional development, and parental stress in children with autism disorder: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Objective: Today, early interventions to treat autistic children through parent training interventions is of outmost importance. Interventions are focused on developmental or behavioral approaches and are mostly individual or group ones. In the present study, both proposed approaches in the form of structured individual and group parent training sessions among Iranian families are investigated.

Method: This study was a randomized clinical trial which was performed in 2019-2020 in Tehran. Forty four 3-5 year-old children with autism participated in the study and were assigned to experimental (n = 22) and control (n = 22) groups through block randomization method. To evaluate the effectiveness of therapy on autism symptoms, Gilliam Autism Rating and Functional Emotional Assessment Scales were used. Also, Parenting Stress Index and Quality of Life Questionnaire were implemented to investigate the secondary effects of the therapy. After 12 therapy sessions, both groups took the posttest and 3 months later, follow up evaluations were performed.

Results: The treatment group manifested significant improvement regarding autism symptoms in both the posttest and follow up (ŋ2 = .77, P < .05) as well as Functional Emotional Development (ŋ2 = .62, P < .05). Comparing the means indicates that the experimental group mean score is significantly higher in quality of life and lower in parenting stress than the control group's.

Conclusion: Parent training is effective on autism symptoms and functional emotional development. Regarding the fact that the follow-up phase coincided with Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine, it can be concluded that the therapy has been successful in maintaining the attained capabilities.

Keywords: Autism; Early intervention; Parent-child relation; Parenting; Quality of life.