TY - JOUR
T1 - A Person-Centered Approach in Investigating a Mindfulness-Based Program for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
AU - Ridderinkhof, Anna
AU - Elmose, Mette
AU - de Bruin, Esther I.
AU - Blom, René
AU - Salem-Guirgis, Sandra
AU - Weiss, Jonathan A.
AU - van der Meer, Paulien
AU - Singh, Nirbhay N.
AU - Bögels, Susan M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Objectives: Adolescents with autism often experience comorbid internalizing disorders such as anxiety disorders or depression but the available evidence-based treatments to support the mental health of adolescents with autism are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate if and how MYmind, a mindfulness-based program (MBP) for youth with autism, could benefit adolescents with comorbid internalizing disorder(s). Methods: A person-centered approach with a multiple baseline design was used to investigate the effects of MYmind. Five adolescents with autism and an internalizing disorder took part in the 9-week MYmind program. The adolescents and their parents completed a daily questionnaire on their personal goals during a baseline phase, the intervention, a 2-month follow-up phase, and a 1-year follow-up phase. We analyzed the effects on their personal goals using visual inspection and statistical analysis for single-case designs. Also, we investigated potential processes of change by analyzing how changes were related over time. Results: Findings indicated that most, but not all, adolescents benefitted from the MBP. Four out of five adolescents showed medium-sized improvement in some of their personal goals. However, one adolescent reported a deterioration during the intervention and 2-month follow-up phase. Decreased worry preceded behavioral improvements in two adolescents, whereas other potential mechanisms of change showed inconclusive results. Conclusion: The findings indicated that most of the adolescents with autism and a comorbid internalizing disorder partially benefitted from the MBP.
AB - Objectives: Adolescents with autism often experience comorbid internalizing disorders such as anxiety disorders or depression but the available evidence-based treatments to support the mental health of adolescents with autism are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate if and how MYmind, a mindfulness-based program (MBP) for youth with autism, could benefit adolescents with comorbid internalizing disorder(s). Methods: A person-centered approach with a multiple baseline design was used to investigate the effects of MYmind. Five adolescents with autism and an internalizing disorder took part in the 9-week MYmind program. The adolescents and their parents completed a daily questionnaire on their personal goals during a baseline phase, the intervention, a 2-month follow-up phase, and a 1-year follow-up phase. We analyzed the effects on their personal goals using visual inspection and statistical analysis for single-case designs. Also, we investigated potential processes of change by analyzing how changes were related over time. Results: Findings indicated that most, but not all, adolescents benefitted from the MBP. Four out of five adolescents showed medium-sized improvement in some of their personal goals. However, one adolescent reported a deterioration during the intervention and 2-month follow-up phase. Decreased worry preceded behavioral improvements in two adolescents, whereas other potential mechanisms of change showed inconclusive results. Conclusion: The findings indicated that most of the adolescents with autism and a comorbid internalizing disorder partially benefitted from the MBP.
KW - Autism
KW - Mechanisms of change
KW - Mindfulness-based program
KW - Person-centered approach
KW - Single-case design
U2 - 10.1007/s12671-021-01668-8
DO - 10.1007/s12671-021-01668-8
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85113730763
VL - 12
SP - 2394
EP - 2414
JO - Mindfulness
JF - Mindfulness
SN - 1868-8527
IS - 10
ER -