Preliminary Effectiveness of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Social Support Intervention for Parents of Children with Chronic Health Conditions

Date of Award

8-2026

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Scott Gaynor, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Amy Naugle, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Amy Damashek, Ph.D.

Fourth Advisor

Kirsten Bonifacio, Ph.D.

Keywords

Acceptance and commitment therapy, chronic health conditions, parenting, parents

Abstract

Many parents of children with chronic health conditions (CHCs) experience elevated levels of psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, which can have adverse effects on child health and psychosocial outcomes. Although the importance of caregiver wellbeing is well established and effective caregiver-directed interventions are available, access to psychosocial and therapeutic supports remains inconsistent across healthcare settings. Scalable and targeted interventions may help increase the reach and utilization of caregiver psychosocial supports.

This open clinical trial examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a brief group intervention combining Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and peer-to-peer support. Thirty-two parents (M age = 42.77 years, 93.8% female) of children (M age = 8.71 years) with a range of chronic health conditions completed a virtual, two-session intervention. Twenty-seven participants received the intervention in a group format, whereas five completed individual sessions that were offered as a fallback option when scheduling barriers prevented attendance at a group session. Participants completed assessments at baseline, mid-intervention (before session two), one-week post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Feasibility benchmarks were met across participant recruitment and retention, and participant ratings indicated high levels of acceptability. Of the 35 eligible participants, 32 (91.4%) initiated the intervention. Retention was extremely high; 100% of participants who began treatment completed both intervention sessions and all follow-up assessments. Participants also reported high levels of satisfaction with the intervention structure and delivery, perceived usefulness of the ACT intervention, and experience receiving peer-to-peer support. Linear mixed models were used to evaluate change over time and indicated significant reductions in caregiver distress, F(2, 48.69) = 5.80, p = .006, g = -0.51. ACT-specific measures improved, with increases in psychological flexibility, F(3, 71.67) = 3.80, p = .014, g = 0.48. Improvements in parent quality of life, (F(3, 66.93) = 1.62, p = .193, g = 0.43, child health-related quality of life, F(2, 49.83) = 2.28, p = .112, g = 0.34, caregiver distress thermometer scores, F(3, 52.88) = 1.95, p = .133, g = -0.37, and parent-reported problems, F(3, 66.17) = 2.55, p = .063, g = -0.50, were observed but did not reach statistical significance. Taken together, the present findings provide preliminary support for the feasibility and potential clinical benefit of a brief intervention combining ACT and peer-to-peer support for parents of children with chronic health conditions.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Abstract Only

Restricted to Campus until

8-1-2028

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS