Feasibility of OT-Parentship: An intervention for parents of adolescents with autism

Batel Wachspress, Itai Berger, Adina Maeir, Tal Mazor-Karsenty

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: Parents of individuals with autism face various difficulties, among which are decreased resilience and heightened stress. OT-Parentship is an intervention for parents of adolescents with autism that aims to promote parental resilience and enhance adolescents’ participation in daily life. This study examines OT-Parentship’s feasibility and explores the improvement of parental resilience and child and parent occupational performance following intervention. Methods: A mixed methods pre-post and follow up study. Fourteen parents (six mothers and four couples) of adolescents with autism participated in a series of 13 individual weekly sessions of 90 minutes each. Study results were analyzed before, after, and 3 months post intervention. Results: All parents completed treatment, with 100% adherence to sessions. Therapist’s treatment fidelity was estimated at 95–97% and parent homework completion was 85%. Preliminary efficacy findings show significant improvement in mothers’ and adolescents’ occupational performance and improvement in maternal resiliency. Conclusion: Research results support the feasibility of the OT-Parentship as a family centered, strength-based, intervention program that leads to improvements in adolescent participation and parental resilience.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)351-360
Number of pages10
JournalBritish Journal of Occupational Therapy
Volume87
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2024

Keywords

  • Autism
  • adolescents
  • feasibility
  • parent intervention
  • pilot

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Occupational Therapy

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