Group Virtual Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Parents of Autistic Adolescents and Adults

Lunsky, Yona; Albaum, Carly; Baskin, A.; Hastings, Richard P.; Hutton, Sue; Steel, Lee; Wang, W.; Weiss, Jonathan A.

doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04835-3

Cited by 30 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(46 reference statements)

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“…Rather, the literature suggests that most have been adapted as urgent family needs arise. Previous work has indicated that there are benefits to participating in online interventions for caregivers of autistic children (Blackman et al, 2020; Hermaszewska & Sin, 2020; Simacek et al, 2020), and autistic adults (Lunsky et al, 2021), but none within the context of a global pandemic. There is ample opportunity to continue investigating the effectiveness of adapted and web‐based curricula and interventions on the targeted needs of autistic children during the pandemic, including the impact of participation in online programs on the wellbeing of the children and their caregivers and family.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of COVID‐19 on the mental health and wellbeing of caregivers of autistic children and youth: A scoping review

et al. 2021

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Caregivers and families of autistic people have experienced stress and increase in demands due to the COVID-19 pandemic that may have long-term negative consequences for both their own and their children's mental health. A scoping review was conducted to identify pandemic related demands experienced by caregivers and families of autistic children and youth. The review also consolidated information on coping strategies and parenting-related guidelines that have emerged to help parents meet these demands. Search strategies were approved by a research librarian and were conducted in peer-reviewed and gray literature databases between May 2020 and February 2021. Additional resources were solicited through author networks and social media. All articles were published between December 2019 and February 2021. Article summaries were charted, and a thematic analysis was conducted with confirmation of findings with our knowledge users. Twenty-three published articles and 14 pieces of gray literature were included in the review. The majority of articles characterized and highlighted the increase in demands on caregivers of autistic children and youth during the pandemic globally. Both quantitative and qualitative studies suggest that parents have experienced an increase in stress and mental health-related symptoms during lockdown measures. Findings suggest that families are employing coping strategies, but there no evidence-based supports were identified. The review highlighted the potential long-term impact of prolonged exposure to increasing demands on the mental health and wellbeing of caregivers and families of autistic people, and pointed to a need for the rapid development and evaluation of flexible and timely support programs. Lay SummaryCaregivers and families of autistic children and youth have faced increased demands due to pandemic-related lockdown measures. We reviewed the literature to outline sources of stress, links to their influence on caregiver mental health, and if support programs have emerged to help them. Our findings suggest a number of demands have increased caregivers' risk to mental health challenges, and their [Correction added on 30 October 2021, after first online publication: The copyright line was updated.]

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of COVID‐19 on the mental health and wellbeing of caregivers of autistic children and youth: A scoping review

et al. 2021

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“…The Ma et al (2018) study compared synchronous group-based mindfulness to self-directed mindfulness, a virtual discussion group, and a no treatment control condition and found that the group-based intervention was more effective than the other conditions. A study of synchronous group-based virtual mindfulness for parents of autistic adults found that parents reported reduced stress and depression, and improved mindfulness and self-compassion, maintained at follow-up (Lunsky et al, 2021). Improvements were comparable to what was reported during in-person group interventions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 84%

“…A recent systematic review of virtual group-based psychological interventions (Gentry et al, 2019) included 40 studies and concluded that such groups are feasible (e.g., retention, technological aspects) and produce self-reported clinical outcomes similar to in-vivo treatments with high participant satisfaction. Synchronous group-based virtual mindfulness interventions have been tried with different groups including healthy adults (Ma et al, 2018), cancer patients (Campo et al, 2017;Zernicke et al, 2014), and family caregivers (Lunsky et al, 2021;Rayner et al, 2016), but not autistic adults. The Ma et al (2018) study compared synchronous group-based mindfulness to self-directed mindfulness, a virtual discussion group, and a no treatment control condition and found that the group-based intervention was more effective than the other conditions.…”

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confidence: 99%

Virtual Group–Based Mindfulness Intervention for Autistic Adults: a Feasibility Study

et al. 2022

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Objectives Although mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to be helpful in reducing psychological distress in autistic adults, limited research has explored virtual delivery in the autism community. We designed an adapted virtual group-based mindfulness intervention, based on input from autistic adults, and evaluated its feasibility in terms of demand, acceptability, implementation, practicality, adaptation, and limited efficacy testing. Methods Informed by an online needs assessment survey of 77 autistic adults, 37 individuals completed a six-week autism informed manualized course delivered virtually. Participants completed pre, post, and 12-week follow up, and also provided qualitative feedback. Results There was a demand for the course, adaptations were successful, and participants indicated good acceptability of the intervention. Open-ended feedback highlighted advantages and challenges with the technology, the benefits of connecting with other autistic adults, and unique aspects of the mindfulness instruction. Participants reported reduced levels of distress which were maintained at three-month follow-up, and increased mindfulness, and self-compassion. Conclusions Autism-informed adaptations to standard mindfulness-based interventions can lead to self-reported improvements in mindfulness, self-compassion, and distress by autistic adults. Continued research with outcome measures tailored toward autistic adults will be important, during and post-pandemic.

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“…In fact, some mental health interventions were designed for people with ID to participate in together with their caregivers. While there are examples of successful virtual mental health care supports targeted toward family caregivers (e.g., Flynn et al, 2020 ; Lunsky, Albaum, et al, 2021 ), it is important to consider the incredible demands on—and exhaustion of—caregivers during the pandemic. While caregivers are needed to support the mental health of people with ID, paid and unpaid caregivers themselves need mental health care.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The mental health and well‐being of adults with intellectual disability during theCOVID‐19 pandemic: A narrative review

Lunsky

Jahoda

Navas

et al. 2022

Policy Practice Intel Disabi

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Prior to the start of the pandemic, adults with intellectual disability (ID) were more likely to experience mental health difficulties and face barriers obtaining mental health care. COVID‐related public health restrictions, combined with heightened challenges to obtain timely mental health care, have served to worsen this situation internationally, with a combination of new onset conditions and worsening mental health for those already struggling. In this narrative review, we summarize literature on the mental health of adults with ID during the COVID‐19 pandemic to describe what is known based on clinician perceptions, existing administrative health data, family and staff perceptions, and self‐report. In addition to noting similarities and differences in findings based on the source of information, we also explored how experiences differed depending on where and when the research was conducted. Based primarily on research conducted during the first six months of the pandemic, there is a consistent finding across sources of increased anxiety, stress, and isolation. This review also explored the delivery of virtual mental health care and the impact of pandemic‐based mental health interventions. There have been very few research studies evaluating clinical care during this time but clinicians have managed to provide supports virtually, which has been evaluated positively by some individuals. This narrative review concludes by identifying gaps in the literature and suggests key directions for future mental health research, policy, and practice efforts. Any mental health efforts now and during pandemic recovery need to have an understanding of how the mental health needs and services for adults with ID have evolved over the course of the pandemic. Further research is needed on the impact of both clinical interventions and other nonclinical efforts on the mental health of people with ID.

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Group Virtual Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Parents of Autistic Adolescents and Adults

Cited by 30 publications

References 34 publications

The impact of COVID‐19 on the mental health and wellbeing of caregivers of autistic children and youth: A scoping review

The impact of COVID‐19 on the mental health and wellbeing of caregivers of autistic children and youth: A scoping review

Virtual Group–Based Mindfulness Intervention for Autistic Adults: a Feasibility Study

The mental health and well‐being of adults with intellectual disability during theCOVID‐19 pandemic: A narrative review

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