Online Mindfulness intervention for Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities
What's the study about?
Parents and caregivers of children with Developmental Disabilities, including Autism, often experience stress and a need for coping methods due to the unique challenges of caregiving. This study seeks to evaluate the feasibility of a brief, two-week online mindfulness intervention designed to reduce caregiver stress and promote overall well-being.
Who can participate?
Eligibility:
• Adults (18 years or older) who are parents or primary caregivers of a child (up to age 21) with a developmental disability (such as autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, or intellectual disability).
• Have access to an internet-enabled device (computer/laptop/smartphone).
• Not currently enrolled in another mindfulness program or diagnosed with a severe mental health condition (such as clinical depression) in the past year.
• Able to understand and complete questionnaires and interviews in English
What will participants be doing?
If you choose to participate in this study, you will:
• Complete a two-week online mindfulness intervention program (10-minute daily guided independent audio sessions + one-hour synchronous sessions with the research team via Zoom, first day of week 1 & week 2).
• Reflect on your daily experiences through short online surveys.
• Complete brief pre- and post-intervention questionnaires and interviews, plus a one-month follow-up survey.
Why is this important?
This study is important because parents of children with Autism often experience significant and persistent stress related to demanding caregiving responsibilities, and such stress can affect both parent well-being and parent-child interactions. By participating in this two-week mindfulness program, parents may gain practical skills to regulate stress, respond more calmly to challenging situations, and strengthen daily interactions with their child. The findings will contribute to the research on mindfulness-based supports for caregiver well-being and child outcomes, offering evidence that brief, accessible interventions can enhance family functioning. Also, insights from this study will help refine and improve the program for broader use, enabling other parents in the autism community to benefit from an effective mindfulness-based intervention.