Enhancing Parental Self-Efficacy and Knowledge: A Pilot Study of a Culturally Adapted Autism Intervention for Parents in Canada

Abstract

Caring for an autistic child often incurs a toll on the family unit, a reality that is often more pronounced for parents of diverse (i.e., racial, cultural, ethnic) backgrounds. The Ecological Validity Framework (EVF) emphasizes the importance of cultural diversity, though research on its applications for parent training programs are in its infancy. The present study is a preliminary evaluation aimed to pilot the ‘Parents Taking Action’ (PTA) parent training program in Canada with a heterogeneous sample of racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse parents. Using a within-subjects case study design, we evaluate the efficacy of PTA, as well as offer recommendations for future trials in line with feasibility protocols. Our results indicate PTA effectively increased parents’ knowledge of autism spectrum disorder, reduced stress, and improved self-efficacy for some. Taken together, the findings support the notion that culturally adapted interventions should inform materials to support ethnically diverse parents of children with special needs.