This preliminary single-arm pre-post interventional study was designed to evaluate the acceptability and preliminary clinical outcomes of an 8-week online group-based parent-mediated intervention (OYNA) for parents of young autistic children. Mothers and fathers independently completed assessments of their child's social communication skills and their own psychological distress at baseline and immediately after the intervention. The study was designed to examine pre-post changes in children's social communication and parental psychological distress and to compare maternal and paternal assessments at both time points. Parent satisfaction with the program was assessed following the intervention, and demographic and clinical factors associated with parent satisfaction were also examined.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent difficulties in social communication and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors. Parent-mediated interventions aim to equip caregivers with strategies that can be incorporated into everyday interactions with their children. Online group-based delivery may facilitate access to such interventions by reducing geographical and logistical barriers. The OYNA program is an 8-week online group-based parent-mediated intervention for parents of young autistic children. The program incorporates psychoeducation, behavioral and developmental strategies, video-based coaching, therapist feedback, and structured home practice to support parents in applying intervention strategies during everyday interactions with their children. This preliminary single-arm pre-post interventional study was designed to evaluate the acceptability and preliminary clinical outcomes of the OYNA program. Both mothers and fathers participated in the assessment process and independently completed measures concerning their child and their own psychological well-being. Children's social communication skills were assessed using the Social Communication Checklist-Revised (SCC-R), and parental psychological distress was assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) at baseline and immediately after the intervention. The study was designed to examine changes in SCC-R and DASS-21 scores from baseline to post-intervention. Maternal and paternal SCC-R and DASS-21 scores were also compared at baseline and post-intervention to examine differences between parental reports. Agreement between maternal and paternal ratings of children's social communication was additionally evaluated. Following completion of the intervention, mothers and fathers completed a Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire assessing satisfaction with the program, perceived benefits for their child, confidence in applying the strategies learned during the intervention, and their overall evaluation of the program. Maternal and paternal satisfaction scores were compared. Finally, the study examined demographic and clinical factors associated with parent satisfaction.Child- and parent-related demographic and clinical characteristics, baseline parental psychological distress, and change in children's social communication were evaluated as potential factors associated with parent satisfaction.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
55
The OYNA program was an 8-week online group-based parent-mediated intervention for parents of young autistic children. The intervention consisted of weekly online group sessions incorporating psychoeducation, behavioral and developmental strategies, therapist guidance, video-based coaching and feedback, and structured home practice. Parents were taught strategies to support their children's social communication and developmental skills and were encouraged to apply these strategies during everyday interactions and routines.
Sabri Hergüner Private Clinic
Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)
Change in Child Social Communication Assessed by the Social Communication Checklist-Revised (SCC-R)
The Social Communication Checklist-Revised (SCC-R) is a 70-item parent-report measure used to assess social communication abilities in young children. It includes four domains: Social Engagement, Expressive Communication, Receptive Communication, and Imitation/Play Skills. Items are rated on a three-point scale, with higher scores indicating better social communication abilities. Mothers and fathers independently completed the SCC-R for the same child at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Changes in the SCC-R total score and domain scores from baseline to post-intervention were evaluated, with an increase in scores indicating improvement in social communication skills.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 8-week intervention
Change in Parental Psychological Distress Assessed by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21)
The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) is a 21-item self-report measure used to assess parental psychological distress. It consists of three 7-item subscales assessing depression, anxiety, and stress. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale from 0 to 3. Subscale scores were multiplied by 2, resulting in possible scores ranging from 0 to 42 for each subscale and from 0 to 126 for the total score. Higher scores indicate greater psychological distress. Mothers and fathers independently completed the DASS-21 at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Changes in the DASS-21 total and subscale scores from baseline to post-intervention were evaluated separately for mothers and fathers.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 8-week intervention
Parent Satisfaction With the OYNA Intervention Assessed by the Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire
Parent satisfaction with the intervention was assessed using a 13-item Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire administered immediately after completion of the intervention. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5, resulting in a total score ranging from 13 to 65. Higher total scores indicate greater satisfaction with the intervention. The questionnaire assesses parents' perceptions of the usefulness and applicability of the intervention strategies, satisfaction with the program and their child's progress, perceived improvements in their child's social communication and developmental skills, increased confidence in supporting their child, and overall satisfaction with the intervention. Mothers and fathers completed the questionnaire independently.
Time frame: Immediately after completion of the 8-week intervention
Comparison of Maternal and Paternal Social Communication Checklist-Revised (SCC-R) Scores
The Social Communication Checklist-Revised (SCC-R) is a 70-item parent-report measure used to assess social communication abilities in young children. It includes four domains: Social Engagement, Expressive Communication, Receptive Communication, and Imitation/Play Skills. Items are rated on a three-point scale, with higher scores indicating better social communication abilities. Mothers and fathers independently completed the SCC-R for the same child. Maternal and paternal SCC-R total scores were compared at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Agreement between maternal and paternal SCC-R ratings was also evaluated.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 8-week intervention
Comparison of Maternal and Paternal Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) Scores
The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) is a 21-item self-report measure assessing depression, anxiety, and stress. It consists of three 7-item subscales. Each item is rated from 0 to 3, and subscale scores were multiplied by 2. Each subscale therefore ranges from 0 to 42, and the total score ranges from 0 to 126. Higher scores indicate greater psychological distress. Mothers and fathers independently completed the DASS-21. Maternal and paternal DASS-21 total scores were compared at baseline and immediately after the intervention.
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the 8-week intervention
Comparison of Maternal and Paternal Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire Scores
Parent satisfaction with the intervention was assessed using a 13-item Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5, resulting in a total score ranging from 13 to 65. Higher total scores indicate greater satisfaction with the intervention. Mothers and fathers independently completed the questionnaire immediately after the intervention. Maternal and paternal total satisfaction scores were compared.
Time frame: Immediately after completion of the 8-week intervention
Factors Associated With Parent Satisfaction With the OYNA Intervention
Parent satisfaction with the intervention was assessed using a 13-item Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire administered immediately after completion of the intervention. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5, resulting in a total score ranging from 13 to 65, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction with the intervention. Factors associated with the Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire total score were examined using hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis. Child age, child sex, and weekly hours of outside educational intervention were entered in the first block as demographic and clinical variables. Baseline parental psychological distress, assessed using the DASS-21 total score, and change in children's social communication, assessed using the SCC-R total score from baseline to post-intervention, were entered in the second block to examine their additional contribution to parent satisfaction.
Time frame: Immediately after completion of the 8-week intervention
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