Co-Designing a Digital Coach-Supported Parenting Program for Internalising Problems in Autistic Children

Depression and clinical anxiety (also known as ‘internalising disorders’) are commonly experienced by autistic children. Parents play an important role in reducing their child’s risk of developing internalising disorders, and existing technology-assisted parenting programs have shown promise in empowering parents in this role. Yet, existing interventions do not currently meet the unique needs of parents of autistic children. This study aimed to co-design adaptations to an existing technology-assisted parenting program (Partners in Parenting Kids) to enhance its relevance and acceptability for parents of school-aged autistic children. An iterative two-phase co-design study was conducted with parents of autistic children (n = 5) and service providers (n = 5). In Phase 1, semi-structured interviews explored participant experiences and needs in the context of parenting support, as well as perspectives on parenting programs. In Phase 2, eight co-design workshops were conducted with parents and service providers to build on the findings from Phase 1 and to collaboratively adapt the program content, delivery, and design features. Workshops involved participatory design activities to foster collaborative sharing of ideas and decision-making. Transcripts from both phases were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Themes identified in Phase 1 included: (1) Day-to-day challenges of parenting an autistic child; (2) Unique parent knowledge base and skill set; and (3) Desired qualities of parenting programs. Themes from Phase 2 of the study included: (1) Meaningful connections with others in the community; (2) Acceptance of autism; and (3) Diversity within the community. These themes are described in terms of their design implications for the resultant parenting program (Partners in Parenting Kids-Autism). The findings provide critical insights into desired qualities of parenting programs for parents of autistic children. Importantly, they also shed light on key design recommendations for future work focused on empowering parents to support their child’s mental health through interventions.