The Efficacy of a Culturally-Adapted Group-based Parent Coaching Program for Autistic Children in China via Telehealth: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders 2024-09
• Main Authors: Qu, Lu, Colombi, Costanza, Chen, Weiyun, Miller, Alison, Miller, Haylie, Ulrich, Dale A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06543-8

The study aimed to examine the efficacy of a culturally-adapted, group-based parent coaching program for autistic children in China delivered via telehealth. A randomized controlled trial was conducted, with 18 parents allocated to the self-directed group that received the intervention through an online learning platform, and 19 parents allocated to the web + group therapy group, which included the same program along with weekly 1.5-hour group coaching sessions via videoconferencing. The primary outcomes were parents' mental health and children's adaptive functioning, while the secondary outcomes focused on the child behaviors, parenting stress and parenting style, and family quality of life. Linear Mixed Models were used to evaluate treatment effects across time and to model longitudinal trajectories of outcomes in both children and parents. Both intervention groups showed significant improvements in children's communication skills (F (1, 60.27) = 29.86, p