Mindful Parenting Strategies
What's the study about?
This study is testing an online, self-paced program designed to help parents of children with autism feel less stressed and more supported. The program combines mindfulness (learning how to be present and calm in the moment) with coping-focused education (learning practical and emotional ways to handle challenges). Parents will learn about three types of coping: problem-focused (finding solutions), emotion-focused (managing feelings), and meaning-focused (finding purpose or perspective) and reflect on how these show up in their own lives. The goal is to see if this combined approach can improve parents’ well-being and lower parenting stress.
Who can participate?
Participants must be over the age of 18 and have at least one child under the age of 21 years old that has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
What will participants be doing?
Parents will respond to a few brief surveys on stress, coping, and well-being, access and practice with a two-part self-paced mindfulness-based skill-building program, and have the option of attending Zoom check-ins for support
Why is this important?
Parents of children with autism often face unique and ongoing stressors, and their well-being directly affects the whole family. By offering a flexible, at-home program that blends proven stress-reduction strategies with tools for finding meaning and emotional balance, this study aims to give parents practical, lasting skills they can adapt to their own beliefs and circumstances. If effective, it could lead to more accessible, low-cost resources that strengthen resilience and quality of life for both caregivers and children in the autism community.