COMPREHENSIVE EARLY FAMILY INTERVENTION FOR CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL PARENT TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

The purpose of this study was to implement a psychological program based on parent training for caregivers of elementary school students with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and to examine the effectiveness of the program. The gender of the 22 parents was all female, with a mean age of 40.95 years (SD 5.08). The content of the program included learning how to objectively view their children's behavior in a systematic way and providing positive feedback on their children's positive behavior. Each session of the program lasted approximately two hours and was conducted a total of nine times over a period of approximately eight months. At the beginning and end of the program, parents and children were measured using three psychological scales. After the program, the parents' negative attitudes toward child-rearing tended to improve. In addition, there was a tendency for the children's communication and daily living skills to develop. Finally, with regard to the parents' mental health, there was a trend toward a reduction in depression. Finally, the participants discussed issues related to the effectiveness and evaluation of the program, as well as ways to improve the content of the program.