title: Moderating Effects of Parental Characteristics on the Effectiveness of a Theory of Mind Training for Children with Autism: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: This RCT investigated whether the effect of a Theory of Mind (ToM) intervention for children with ASD was moderated by parental education level and employment, family structure, and parental ASD. Children with autism aged 8-13 years (n = 136) were randomized over a waitlist control or treatment condition. At posttest, children in the treatment condition had more ToM knowledge, showed fewer autistic features, and more ToM-related behavior than children in the control condition. Children who had one or two parents with at least a college degree, and children with parents not diagnosed with/suspected of having ASD themselves benefitted from the training. These findings provide valuable information about family variables that need to be taken into account in treatment design and implementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuro and Developmental Psychology & EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. d.m.j.de.veld@vu.nl.
authors.forename: Danielle M J
authors.initials: DMJ
authors.lastname: de Veld
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.|Faculty of Health Sciences & Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 100 Mallet Street, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Howlin
authors.affiliation: De Bascule, Rijksstraatweg 145, 1115AP, Duivendrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elske
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hoddenbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuro and Developmental Psychology & EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Fleur
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuro and Developmental Psychology & EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Imke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuro and Developmental Psychology & EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hans M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Koot
authors.affiliation: De Bascule, Rijksstraatweg 145, 1115AP, Duivendrecht, The Netherlands.|Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuro and Developmental Psychology & EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Begeer
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D056345:Theory of Mind
keywords: Autism; Moderator; Randomized controlled trial; Theory of mind; Treatment