The effectiveness of parent management training to increase self-efficiency in parents of children with Asperger’s Syndrome

By Sofronoff, K and Farbotko, M. (2002), Autism, Vol 6(3) 271-286

This study was a trial of an intervention programme aimed to improve parental self-efficiency in the management of problem behaviours associated with Asperger’s Syndrome. The intervention was compared across two formats, a 1-day workshop and six individual sessions, and also with a non-intervention control group. The results indicated that, compared with the control group, parents in both intervention groups reported fewer problem behaviours and increased self-efficiency following the interventions, at both 4 weeks and 3 months follow-up. The results also showed a difference in self-efficiency between mothers and fathers, with mothers reporting a significantly greater increase in self- efficiency following intervention than fathers. There was no significant difference between the workshop format and the individual sessions.

A manual, created for use both during the interventions and as a reference at home, was given to the parents.

The manual was organised into six components and followed the structure of the interventions. Each session or component lasted one hour and the order was as follows:

psychoeducation
comic strip conversations
social stories
management of behaviour problems
management of rigid behaviours, routines, and special interests
anxiety management