Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Discussion and Conclusion

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
A Mindfulness Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Part of the book series: Mindfulness in Behavioral Health ((MIBH))

  • 1910 Accesses

Abstract

This two-stage mindfulness intervention aimed to train six mothers and their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and challenging behaviour in mindfulness, to address the effects on them of mindfulness practice. The results show some positive training effects for both these mothers and their children. These findings, together with the results of the systematic review of mindfulness interventions, suggest that people with developmental disabilities (DD) can learn and practise mindfulness to help them address their own behavioural and/or psychological difficulties. Mindfulness may also be used indirectly, to help individuals with DD who may not yet be ready to learn it, by training their family or professional care providers. We also discuss the theoretical, practical and methodological issues that frame this project. Finally, this chapter addresses the limitations of the current study and its implications for future research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bazzano, A., Wolfe, C., Zylowska, L., Wang, S., Shchuster, E., Barrett, C., & Lehrer, D. (2013). Mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) for parents and caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities: A comunity-based approach. Journal of Child Family Studies. doi:10.1007/s10826-013-9836-9

    Google Scholar 

  • Benn, R., Akiva, T., Arel, S., & Roeser, R. (2012). Mindfulness training effects for parents and educators of children with special needs. Developmental Psychology, 48, 1476–1487.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blackledge, J. T., & Hayes, S. C. (2006). Using acceptance and commitment training in the support of parents of children diagnosed with autism. Child & Family Behaviour Therapy, 28(1), 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bluth, K., Roberson, P., Billen, R., & Sams, J. (2013). A stress model for couples parenting children with autism spectrum disorders and the introduction of a Mindfulness intervention. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 5, 194–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bögels, S., Hoogstad, B., van Dun, L., de Schutter, S., & Restifo, K. (2008). Mindfulness training for adolescents with externalising disorders and their parents. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 36, 193–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bögels, S., Lehtonen, A., & Restifo, K. (2010). Mindful Parenting in mental health care Mindfulness, 1, 107–120.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bögels, S., Hellemans, J., Deursen, S. v., Römer, M., & Meulen, R. v. d. (2013). Mindful parenting in mental health care: Effects on parental and child psychology, parental stress, parenting, coparenting, and marital functioning. Mindfulness. doi:10.1007/s12671-013-0209-7

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, F. J., & Hooper, S. (2009). Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with a learning disabled young person experiencing anxious and obsessive thoughts. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 13, 195–201.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Charman, T., & Howlin, P. (2003). Research into early intervention for children with autism and related disorders: Methodological and design issues. Autism, 7, 217–225.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coatsworth, D., Duncan, L., Greenberg, M., & Nix, R. (2010). Changing parent’s mindfulness, child management skills and relationship quality with their youth: Results from a randomized pilot intervention trial. Journal of Child Family Studies, 19, 203–217.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Dumas, J. (2005). Mindfulness-based parent training: Strategies to lessen the grip of automaticity in families with disruptive children. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 34, 779–791.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferraioli, S., & Harris, S. (2013). Comparative effects of mindfulness and skills-based parent training programs for parents of children with autism: Feasibility and preliminary outcome data. Mindfulness, 4, 89–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grossman, P. (2010). Mindfulness for psychologists: Paying kind attention to the perceptible. Mindfulness, 1, 87–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grossman, P. (2011). Defining mindfulness by how poorly I think I pay attention during everyday awareness and other intractable problems for psychology’s (Re)invention of mindfulness: Comment on Brown et al. (2011). Psychological Assessment, 23(4), 1034–1040.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harnett, P., & Dawe, S. (2012). Review: The contribution of mindfulness-based therapies for children and families and proposed conceptual integration. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 17(4), 195–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, L., Marquis, J. G., Poston, D. J., Summers, J. A., & Turnbull, A. (2006). Assessing family outcomes: Psychometric evaluation of the family quality of life scale. Journal of Marriage and Family, 68, 1069–1083.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang, Y. S., & Kearney, P. (2013). A systematic review of mindfulness intervention for individuals with developmental disabilities: Long-term practice and long lasting effects. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34, 314–326.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang, Y. S., & Kearney, P. (2014). Mindful and mutual care for individuals with developmental disabilities: A systematic literature review. Journal of Child Family Studies, 23(3), 497–509. doi:10.1007/s10826-012-9707-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Idusohan-Moizer, H., Sawicka, A., Dendle, J., & Albany, M. (2013). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for adults with intellectual disabilities: An evaluation of the effectiveness of mindfulness in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 1–12. doi:10.1111/jir.12082

    Google Scholar 

  • Jochems, E. C., Mulder, C. L., Dam, A. v., Duivenvoorden, H. J., Scheffer, S. C., Spek, W. v. d., & Feltz-Cornelis, C. M. v. d. (2012). Motivation and treatment engagement intervention trial (MotivaTe-IT): The effects of motivation feedback to clinicians on treatment engagement in patients with severe mental illness. BMC Psychiatry, 12, 209–216.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Mindfulness-based interventions in context: Past, present, and future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10, 144–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser, A. P., & Hancock, T. B. (2003). Teaching parents new skills to support their young children’s development. Infants & Young Children, 16, 9–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser, A. P., & McIntyre, L. L. (2010). Introduction to special section on evidence-based practices for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 115, 357–363.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kasari, C., Gulsrud, A. C., Wong, C., Kwon, S., & Locke, J. (2010). Randomized controlled caregiver mediated joint engagement intervention for toddlers with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 1045–1056.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Keen, D. (2010). Engagement of children with autism in learning. Australasian Journal of Special Education, 33(2), 130–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, E. E., & Hastings, R. P. (2008). Mindful parenting and care involvement of fathers of children with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Child Family Studies. doi:10.1007/s10826-008-9243-9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matson, M., Mahan, S., & Matson, J. (2009). Parent training: A review of methods for children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 3, 868–875.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miodrag, N., Lense, M. D., & Dykens, E. M. (2013). A pilot study of mindfulness intervention for individuals with Williams syndrome: Physiological outcomes. Mindfulness, 4, 137–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neece, C. (2013). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for parents of young children with developmental delays: Implications for parental mental health and child behaviour problems. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. doi:10.1111/jar.12064

    Google Scholar 

  • Neece, C., Green, S., & Baker, B. (2012). Parenting stress and child behavior problems: A transactional relationship across time. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 117, 48–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oono, I. P., Honey, E. J., & McConachie, H. (2013). Parent-mediated early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Evidence-Based Child Health, 8(6), 2380–2479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, J. (2011). Mindfulness: A tool for parents and children with Asperger’s Syndrome. Mindfulness, 2, 212–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2002). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: A new approach to preventing relapse. New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva, L., & Schalock, M. (2012). Autism parenting stress index: Initial psychometric evidence. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42, 566–574.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Winton, A. S. W., Wahler, R. G., Singh, J., & Sage, M. (2004). Mindful caregiving increases happiness among individuals with profound multiple disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 25, 207–218.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Winton, A. S. W., Curtis, W. J., Wahler, R. G., Sabaawi, M., Singh, J., McAleavey, K., et al. (2006a). Mindful staff increase learning and reduce aggression in adults with developmental disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 27, 545–558.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Winton, A. S. W., Fisher, B. C., Wahler, R. G., McAleavey, K., Singh, J., SaBaawi, M., et al. (2006b). Mindful parenting decreases aggression, noncompliance, and self-injury in children with autism. Journal of Emotional and Behavioural Disorders, 14(3), 169–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Winton, A. S. W., Singh, J., Curtis, W. J., Wahler, R. G., & McAleavey, K. M. (2007). Mindful parenting decreases aggression and increases social behaviour in children with developmental disabilities. Behaviour Modification, 31, 749–771.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Winton, A. S. W., Singh, A. N. A., Adkins, A. D. A., & Singh, J. (2009). Mindful staff can reduce the use of physical restraints when providing care to individuals with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22, 194–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Manikam, R., Winton, A. S. W., Singh, A. N. A., Singh, J., & Singh, A. D. A. (2011a). A mindfulness-based strategy for self-management of aggressive behaviour in adolescents with autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5, 1153–1158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Singh, A. D. A., Winton, A. S. W., Singh, A. N. A., & Singh, J. (2011b). Adolescents with asperger syndrome can use a mindfulness-based strategy to control their aggressive behaviour. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5, 1103–1109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Winton, A. S. W., Karazsia, B. T., Myers, R. E., Latham, L. I., & Singh, J. (2014). Mindfulness-based positive behavior support (MBPBS) for mothers of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: Effects on adolescents’ behavior and parental stress. Mindfulness. doi:10.1007/s12671-014-0321-3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spek, A., van Ham, N., & Nyklicek, I. (2013). Mindfulness-based therapy in adults with an autism spectrum disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34(1), 246–253.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vernon, T. W., Koegel, R. L., Dauterman, H., & Stolen, K. (2012). An early social engagement intervention for young children with autism and their parents. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42, 2702–2717.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, C., Odom, S. L., Hume, K., Cox, A. W., Fettig, A., Kucharczyk, S., Schultz, T. R., et al. (2013). Evidence-based practices for children, youth, and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Chapel Hill The University of North Carolina, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Autism Evidence-Based Practice Review Group.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Catholic University, Banyo, Queensland, Australia

    Yoon-Suk Hwang

  2. Kalyana Mitta Sanga, Highgate Hill, Queensland, Australia

    Patrick Kearney

Authors
  1. Yoon-Suk Hwang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Patrick Kearney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yoon-Suk Hwang .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hwang, YS., Kearney, P. (2015). Discussion and Conclusion. In: A Mindfulness Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Mindfulness in Behavioral Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18962-8_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation