A Coping Effectiveness Training Intervention for Caregivers of Children With Autism Spectrum: A Feasibility Study

December 14, 2019 updated by: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

A Coping Effectiveness Training Intervention for Caregivers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Feasibility Study

In recent years, there have been a growing number of individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). As such, this increase has expanded the number of caregivers of children with ASD. Research has shown that having a child with an ASD is stressful for caregivers and their families. More specifically, prior research suggests that caregivers of children with ASD may find it difficult to maintain feelings of control and to cope with the overall physical and emotional demands of caring for their child. A previous study of caregivers of children with ASD found that caregivers felt a lack of personal control over aspects of their child s condition and also found it difficult to cope with various demands of caregiving. Furthermore, this study found that greater levels of perceived personal control and the use of problem-focused coping strategies were associated with caregivers adaptation to their child s condition. As such, the goal of our research is to conduct a feasibility study using a coping effectiveness training (CET) intervention designed to enhance perceived personal control (PPC) and coping efficacy in caregivers of children with ASD. There has been a growing interest in developing interventions targeted at constructs involved in the adaptation process. However, there have been few studies of interventions targeting predictors of adaptation such as PPC and coping efficacy. Research has shown that the CET intervention can enhance coping efficacy in several other populations. This intervention also incorporates appraisals of one s ability to change a particular situation. The conceptual framework for our study was adapted from Lazarus and Folkman s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. A cross-sectional randomized treatment-control design is proposed to evaluate the use of a CET intervention intended to enhance PPC and coping efficacy. Caregivers of children with ASD will be recruited from support groups, autism resource centers, and four clinics. Participants randomized to the treatment group will be asked to complete baseline and follow-up surveys and two 1.5-hour individualized in-person sessions. Participants randomized to the control group will be asked to complete baseline and follow-up surveys and two 1.5-hour individualized in-person client-centered discussion sessions. The main outcome measures will be participation, reasons for withdrawal, participants experiences within the intervention setting and their experiences in applying the intervention, PPC, coping efficacy, and coping effectiveness.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

In recent years, there have been a growing number of individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). As such, this increase has expanded the number of caregivers of children with ASD. Research has shown that having a child with an ASD is stressful for caregivers and their families. More specifically, prior research suggests that caregivers of children with ASD may find it difficult to maintain feelings of control and to cope with the overall physical and emotional demands of caring for their child. A previous study of caregivers of children with ASD found that caregivers felt a lack of personal control over aspects of their child s condition and also found it difficult to cope with various demands of caregiving. Furthermore, this study found that greater levels of perceived personal control and the use of problem-focused coping strategies were associated with caregivers adaptation to their child s condition. As such, the goal of our research is to conduct a feasibility study using a coping effectiveness training (CET) intervention designed to enhance perceived personal control (PPC) and coping efficacy in caregivers of children with ASD. There has been a growing interest in developing interventions targeted at constructs involved in the adaptation process. However, there have been few studies of interventions targeting predictors of adaptation such as PPC and coping efficacy. Research has shown that the CET intervention can enhance coping efficacy in several other populations. This intervention also incorporates appraisals of one s ability to change a particular situation. The conceptual framework for our study was adapted from Lazarus and Folkman s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. A cross-sectional randomized treatment-control design is proposed to evaluate the use of a CET intervention intended to enhance PPC and coping efficacy. Caregivers of children with ASD will be recruited from support groups, autism resource centers, and four clinics. Participants randomized to the treatment group will be asked to complete baseline and follow-up surveys and two 1.5-hour individualized in-person sessions. Participants randomized to the control group will be asked to complete baseline and follow-up surveys and two 1.5-hour individualized in-person client-centered discussion sessions. The main outcome measures will be participation, reasons for withdrawal, participants experiences within the intervention setting and their experiences in applying the intervention, PPC, coping efficacy, and coping effectiveness.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21205
        • Kennedy Krieger Institute

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 100 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:
  • Must be a primary caregiver (biological or adoptive parent or grandparent) of a child with an ASD [note: no restrictions with regard to age of the child or how recently s/he was diagnosed
  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Caregivers must reside with the child
  • Only one caregiver per household and this person should be the caregiver that spends the most time with the child.
  • Must be able to read, write, and speak English

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

- Those who have a child with any specific genetic diagnosis associated with ASD [including Rett, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Fragile X Syndrome, Neurofibromatosis, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and Angelman Syndrome will not be eligible to participate in this study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Feasibility of the intervention
Time Frame: 2 months
2 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

July 5, 2010

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 4, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

May 6, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 22, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 22, 2010

First Posted (Estimate)

July 23, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

December 17, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 14, 2019

Last Verified

November 21, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 999910160
  • 10-HG-N160

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Autism Spectrum Disorders

Clinical Trials on Coping Effectiveness Training

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Armenia

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

3
Subscribe