Evaluating a Web Delivered Behavioral Parent Training Intervention for Rural Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

For parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the severity of the child's behavior negatively correlates with parental well-being. Parental education and support buffers stress and negative effects that some parents experience. Parents living in rural areas face several barriers to obtaining support, psychoeducation, and ASD interventions due to a lack of local resources. This pilot study will test the acceptability, feasibility and preliminary effects of Attend Behavior, a Web-based behavioral parent training (PT) program, for parents of children with ASD in rural areas. The program goals are to decrease child problem behaviors and improve parental mental health. Methods: Parents (N = 40) of young children (2-11 years old) diagnosed with ASD will be recruited. A single group pre/post-intervention design using mixed methods will be used to determine the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy. The effects of Attend Behavior on parent mental health will be measured. The effects of Attend Behavior on child problem behaviors will be measured. Individual interviews with the parents will take place post-intervention to ascertain perspectives on Attend Behavior. Acceptability and feasibility will also be measured using the Acceptability of Intervention, Intervention Appropriateness Measure, and the Feasibility of Intervention Measure. Effect sizes will be calculated to examine the efficacy of the intervention.