<p>Autistic children and adolescents are often impacted by co-occurring anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be an effective anxiety intervention for youth on the autism spectrum and there is growing evidence to support CBT interventions in school settings. However, less is known about student and caregiver satisfaction with school-based CBT interventions for anxiety among autistic youth. This secondary data analytic study examined student and caregiver satisfaction with <i>Facing Your Fears in Schools (FYF-S)</i>, a manualized anxiety intervention for students on the autism spectrum or with related social and learning differences that is delivered in small groups by school providers. Post-intervention satisfaction with <i>FYF-S</i> was examined among 35 students (ages 8–14) with autism or suspected autism and their caregivers. Students and caregivers reported high satisfaction with the program. Caregiver, but not student, satisfaction was associated with lower post-treatment anxiety after controlling for baseline anxiety. Caregivers who completed more participation opportunities (i.e., attending a caregiver group session and/or watching a video) reported significantly higher satisfaction. These findings support the acceptability of <i>FYF-S</i> as a school-based intervention for students with autism or suspected autism and anxiety. Results also suggest that caregiver satisfaction is closely tied to student anxiety outcomes and highlight caregiver involvement as an important factor related to satisfaction with school-based mental health interventions.</p>

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Facing Your Fears in Schools (FYF-S): Connecting Participant Satisfaction, Caregiver Involvement, and Anxiety Outcomes

  • Ainsley Losh,
  • Caitlin Middleton,
  • Katherine Pickard,
  • Allison Meyer,
  • Lisa Hayutin,
  • Nuri Reyes,
  • Audrey Blakeley-Smith,
  • Richard Boles,
  • Judy Reaven

摘要

Autistic children and adolescents are often impacted by co-occurring anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be an effective anxiety intervention for youth on the autism spectrum and there is growing evidence to support CBT interventions in school settings. However, less is known about student and caregiver satisfaction with school-based CBT interventions for anxiety among autistic youth. This secondary data analytic study examined student and caregiver satisfaction with Facing Your Fears in Schools (FYF-S), a manualized anxiety intervention for students on the autism spectrum or with related social and learning differences that is delivered in small groups by school providers. Post-intervention satisfaction with FYF-S was examined among 35 students (ages 8–14) with autism or suspected autism and their caregivers. Students and caregivers reported high satisfaction with the program. Caregiver, but not student, satisfaction was associated with lower post-treatment anxiety after controlling for baseline anxiety. Caregivers who completed more participation opportunities (i.e., attending a caregiver group session and/or watching a video) reported significantly higher satisfaction. These findings support the acceptability of FYF-S as a school-based intervention for students with autism or suspected autism and anxiety. Results also suggest that caregiver satisfaction is closely tied to student anxiety outcomes and highlight caregiver involvement as an important factor related to satisfaction with school-based mental health interventions.