A mindful parenting program for self-care co-occupation of autistic children on parental outcomes: a feasibility pilot randomized clinical trial

This pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT) evaluated the feasibility and exploratory effects of a mindful parenting participation program integrated into occupational therapy (OT) to enhance parental engagement in the self-care co-occupation of autistic children. Twenty parent-child dyads were randomly assigned to the intervention (mindfulness-based training + conventional OT) or the comparison groups (conventional OT). The two-month intervention was followed by assessments immediately post-intervention and at two months. Outcomes were measured using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire (MIPQ), Parenting Stress Index (PSI), and CAPES-DD for parental self-efficacy. Feasibility was confirmed, with high rates of acceptability (87.5%), attendance (75%), compliance (75%), and fidelity. The intervention group showed preliminary and exploratory improvement in parental satisfaction with the child’s self-care co-occupation compared to the control group, with a clinically meaningful change (SMD: 2.1 at the post-test, 1.4 at the follow-up). Improvements were also observed in mindful parenting and parenting stress. Parental self-efficacy showed delayed gains, becoming comparable at follow-up. Embedding mindfulness into parenting co-occupations is feasible and potentially beneficial in improving parental satisfaction and psychological well-being. Future studies with larger samples and longer follow-up are warranted. Mindfulness-based interventions can be effectively integrated into conventional occupational therapy for parents of autistic children, enhancing parental satisfaction with child self-care.
Improvements in mindful parenting practices can foster better emotional regulation and responsiveness, reduce parental stress and improve caregiving.Incorporating mindfulness strategies into therapy for parents may promote long-term reductions in stress, contributing to better overall well-being.A combined approach of mindfulness and conventional occupational therapy offers a promising avenue for improving parental self-efficacy and enhancing caregiving skills in families of autistic children. Improvements in mindful parenting practices can foster better emotional regulation and responsiveness, reduce parental stress and improve caregiving. Incorporating mindfulness strategies into therapy for parents may promote long-term reductions in stress, contributing to better overall well-being. A combined approach of mindfulness and conventional occupational therapy offers a promising avenue for improving parental self-efficacy and enhancing caregiving skills in families of autistic children.

本先导随机对照试验（Randomized Clinical Trial, RCT）评估了融入作业治疗（Occupational Therapy, OT）的正念育儿参与项目的可行性与探索性效应，该项目旨在提升家长参与自闭症儿童自我护理共同职业活动的投入程度。本研究共纳入20组亲子对，将其随机分配至干预组（正念训练联合常规作业治疗）与对照组（仅常规作业治疗）。干预周期为2个月，随后分别在干预结束即刻及随访2个月时开展效果评估。结局指标采用加拿大作业活动表现量表（Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, COPM）、育儿正念问卷（Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire, MIPQ）、育儿压力指数（Parenting Stress Index, PSI）以及用于评估家长自我效能感的CAPES-DD量表进行测量。本研究验证了该方案的可行性，受试者的可接受度（87.5%）、出勤率（75%）、依从性（75%）及方案忠实度均处于较高水平。与对照组相比，干预组家长在与儿童共同参与自我护理职业活动的满意度方面呈现初步探索性提升，且存在具有临床意义的效应变化（标准化均数差SMD：干预后为2.1，随访时为1.4）。同时，干预组在正念育儿水平及育儿压力维度亦有所改善。家长自我效能感则呈现延迟获益，至随访阶段两组水平趋于一致。将正念理念融入育儿共同职业活动具有可行性，且有望改善家长满意度与心理健康水平。未来需开展更大样本量、更长随访周期的研究以进一步验证该方案的应用价值。