Publication Date
2022
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
First Advisor
Pittman, Laura
Degree Name
Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
Legacy Department
Department of Psychology
Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the efficacy of a parent-based workshop for child anxiety adapted from a novel parent-based intervention, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE). This study expanded upon the current literature as the intervention was conducted with a sample consisting of parents with children who have selective mutism (SM). The sample included 53 parents (Mage = 40.34 years, 98% female, 77.4% White) of children who have SM symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to the parent workshop condition (n = 26) or the waitlist control condition (n = 27). Participants in the workshop condition completed a 6-week workshop that focused on identifying, tracking, and reducing an accommodation specific to SM. Data were collected pre- and post-workshop (T1 and T2, respectively). It was predicted that participants in the workshop condition would show a greater decrease in family accommodation, family accommodation of SM, parenting stress, parent anxiety, child anxiety, SM symptoms, and child disruptive behaviors at T2 relative to T1 compared to the waitlist control group. Most hypotheses were unsupported; however, a 2x2 mixed design repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated a significant interaction between condition and time for family accommodation of SM. Results were also trending towards significance for parent anxiety. For both outcomes, there was a significant decrease over time within the workshop group, whereas both variables were stable across time in the waitlist control group. Additionally, parents’ subjective reports of their experiences participating in the parent workshop indicated it was helpful and promoted change. Multiple design factors likely contributed to the lack of significant findings, though the results support the value of continued research in the impact of parent-only interventions for children with SM. Future research should consider different lengths and modalities of the abbreviated workshop, different individuals the workshop could target (e.g., school staff), and how interventions such as these impact families from diverse backgrounds.
Recommended Citation
Pabis, Jacqueline M., "Parent Training Workshop for Children with Selective Mutism: a Randomized-Controlled Trial" (2022). Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations. 7342.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allgraduate-thesesdissertations/7342
Extent
139 pages
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Rights Statement 2
NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.
Media Type
Text
