16695
Group Autism Parent-Training in a Low-Resource Community: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Joint Engagement Intervention in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Objectives: The study aimed to test the efficacy of the parent-training program translated into Spanish and delivered in a 2-day weekend workshop format.
Methods: The parent-training program was originally developed for a multi-cultural, low-income, group in the Bronx, NY (Houghton and Lewis, 2012) and teaches parents research-based techniques for encouraging joint engagement embedded in everyday activities at home. 24 families, with children under 6 years of age with ASD, were randomly allocated to two groups. The primary dependent variable was parent interactive style, specifically Responsivity and Directiveness (Mahoney & Perales, 2003), as observed in a video recorded free play session with the child. Group 1 received the 2-day parent-training program first while Group 2 served as a control group. Then Group 2 received the training program, forming a secondary, multiple-baseline arm.
Results: Group 1 showed a significant increase in Responsivity and a significant decrease in Directiveness after the training program as compared to the control group. Group 2 showed the same pattern of change in interactive style as compared to the baseline period.
Conclusions: A brief, low-cost group parent-training program was shown to increase parent Responsivity and reduce Directiveness, an interactive style that has been shown to positively impact social-communication development in children with ASD.
See more of: Specific Interventions - Non-pharmacologic