Project Description

Challenge

Adolescents with autism often struggle with anxiety, depression, stress and attention.  While cognitive behavioural approaches can support many autistic youth, research shows that many participants will fail to respond to these kinds of treatments, and many of these interventions are targeted only at children 12 years of age and younger.

Project Summary

Based on Eastern meditation techniques, mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) is an intervention that aims to increase awareness of the present moment, enhance non-judgemental observation, and reduce automatic responding. By using a variety of meditative techniques, the goal is to reduce mental health issues and stress while increasing emotional regulation, mindfulness, self-compassion and overall quality of life.

This project assessed the use of an intervention called MYMind, which combines MBT for youth with MBT for parents because it is well established that caregivers also experience stress and mental health issues. The team assessed the effectiveness of the MYMind intervention for adolescents with autism and their parents. This project was the first of its type in Canada to combine youth and parent mindfulness at the same time, and one of the first internationally to examine mindfulness intervention in youth who have considerable emotional, social, and communication difficulties.

Result

The team had autistic adolescents and their parents undergo a concurrent 9-session MBT program, with participants assessed pre-intervention, ten weeks post-intervention, and ten weeks later for follow-up. Results so far have been promising: Adolescents and young adults experienced many benefits to participating in a group mindfulness program, including greater feelings of belonging and control over their thoughts.

Funding

Kids Brain Health Network – $100,833

Partners – $11,000

Team

Principal Investigators

Jonathan Weiss, York University

Investigators

Irene Drmic, The Hospital for Sick Children
David Nicholas, University of Calgary

Collaborators

Susan Bogels, University of Amsterdam
Esther de Bruin, University of Amsterdam
Margaret Clark, University of Calgary
Patricia Rockman, Centre for Mindfulness Studies