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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Parents of Children With ASD: Effects on Cognitive Fusion, Stigma, and Mindfulness

NCT07582627 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 30

Last updated 2026-05-13

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this intervention is to evaluate whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can improve psychological well-being among parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Saudi Arabia. The study focuses on parents aged 18 years and older who are caring for children diagnosed with ASD. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does ACT reduce affiliate stigma among parents of children with ASD?
* Does ACT reduce cognitive fusion among parents of children with ASD?
* Does ACT improve mindfulness levels among parents of children with ASD?
* Does ACT reduce mental health problems (depression, anxiety, and stress) among parents of children with ASD?
* Does ACT influence perceived social support among parents of children with ASD?

Participants will take part in an ACT-based intervention program and complete questionnaires before and after the intervention. Specifically, participants will:

* Attend structured ACT sessions delivered online over five weeks.
* Complete questionnaires measuring affiliate stigma, cognitive fusion, and mindfulness before the intervention.
* Complete the same questionnaires after the intervention to assess changes.

Conditions

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a structured behavioral intervention designed to enhance psychological flexibility through mindfulness, acceptance, and value-based action. In this study, ACT was delivered online by a trained mental health nurse to parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The intervention consisted of multiple sessions conducted weekly over several weeks. Sessions included psycho-education about ACT principles, mindfulness exercises, cognitive fusion techniques, and strategies to promote acceptance and value-driven behavior. Participants engaged in interactive discussions, guided activities, and homework assignments. The intervention aimed to reduce cognitive fusion and affiliate stigma while improving mindfulness. Outcome measures were assessed before and after the intervention to evaluate effectiveness.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Jazan

    lead OTHER_GOV

Principal Investigators

  • Amani A. Kappi, PhD · University of Jazan

  • Warda H. Al Shahat, PhD · University of Jazan

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-01-25
Primary Completion
2026-02-26
Completion
2026-02-26

Countries

  • Saudi Arabia

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07582627 on ClinicalTrials.gov