Abstract

AutInsight is an innovative, consumer-informed parent support program for parents of autistic children grounded in perspectives from qualitative research with autistic adults. The current study outlines the development and evaluation of AutInsight through a pilot randomised controlled trial. Parents (N = 41) of autistic children (10 years and younger) were randomly allocated to AutInsight (n = 20) or care-as-usual (n = 21) and completed online questionnaires across three timepoints (baseline, post-program and 3-month follow-up). Measures include parental sensitivity, parental acceptance and understanding, psychological flexibility, mindful parenting, parental mental health, overall family experience, quality of life, and child behaviours. Intent-to-treat analyses indicated greater rates of improvement for parents allocated to the AutInsight program, with small- to medium-sized effects for parent-reported parental sensitivity (EA-SR mutual attunement d = 0.84, EA-SR child involvement d = 0.50), as well as overall autism family experience (AFEQtotal d = 0.38, AFEQfamily life d = 0.29). Greater rates of improvement were also found in parent-reported child conduct problems (SDQ d = 0.62) and prosocial behaviours (SDQ d = 0.48). No significant results were found in observed parental sensitivity or any other measure. Results suggest preliminary evidence of effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of the AutInsight program. A larger, fully powered trial is warranted. This trial was prospectively registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Trial ID: ACTRN12623000806662).