Impact of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Cognitive Fusion, Affiliate Stigma, and Mindfulness of Parents to Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in improving psychological outcomes among parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Saudi Arabia. Parents of children with ASD often experience elevated psychological distress, including high levels of cognitive fusion, affiliate stigma, and reduced mindfulness and mental health issues (Depression, anxiety, and stress), which may negatively affect their well-being and caregiver capacity.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a third-wave behavioral intervention designed to enhance psychological flexibility through processes such as acceptance, cognitive fusion, present-moment awareness, and values-based action. This study investigates whether participation in an ACT-based intervention can reduce cognitive fusion and affiliate stigma while improving mindfulness and decreasing mental health issues (Depression, anxiety, and stress) among parents of children with ASD.

The study will adopt a quasi-experimental one-group pre-post design. Participants will be recruited from autism support centers, healthcare institutions, and community settings. Eligible participants will complete baseline assessments prior to the intervention, followed by post-intervention assessments using validated instruments to evaluate changes in study outcomes.

Intervention Description:

The ACT intervention will be delivered by a trained mental health professional with expertise in ACT. The program will consist of structured group sessions conducted online via a secure platform. Sessions will focus on core ACT processes, including acceptance of internal experiences, cognitive fusion techniques, mindfulness exercises, values clarification, and committed action.