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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06361147

Psychoeducation of Adult Siblings of ASD People (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychoeducational program in enhancing autism-related knowledge, sibling relationships, well-being, and resilience among adults with a sibling on the spectrum, while also highlighting the need for tailored supportive interventions for this population.

The psychoeducational program will be implemented in adult siblings of people with ASD and its effectiveness will be assessed.

Participation in this program is expected to contribute in the improvement of the quality of life of the participants, their siblings with ASD and those related to them. No risk is identified.

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Key information

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder Child Development Disorders, Pervasive Mental Disorders Neurodevelopmental Disorders Sibling Relations

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Hellenic Mediterranean University

Heraklion, Crete, 82102, Greece

About this study

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental lifelong disorder of which prevalence has been significantly increased through the decades. Notwithstanding the abundant research finding on the ASD people and their parents regarding their mental health, quality of life etc., limited evidence exists regarding the siblings of people with ASD. The aim of this study is to apply a psychoeducational program for ASD in adult siblings of people with ASD as a means of providing disorder - related knowledge and improving their quality of life. The psychoeducational program will provide basic knowledge about ASD, training on behavioral management, acceptance and ongoing support to serve the needs of people with ASD and their caregivers.

This study will be a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with voluntary participation. The psychoeducational program will be implemented in adult siblings of people with ASD, free of charge, it will be conducted online by certified trainers, due to the coronavirus pandemic and its effectiveness will be assessed. The sample will be recruited from the general population of Greece. Four groups, each divided into experimental groups and control groups, will be randomized.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, participants will be asked to complete the online questionnaires three times (pre-intervention, post-intervention and three-month follow-up).

Participation in this program is expected to contribute in the improvement of the quality of life of the participants, their siblings with ASD and those related to them. No risk is identified.

This study is part of a doctoral thesis in progress at the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HELMEPA), Department of Social Work.

The study is expected to start in April 2024 and to be completed about six months later.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

were: (i) age 18 or older, (ii) having one sibling diagnosed with ASD, (iii) being neurotypical, and (iv) no prior participation in a psychoeducational program for autism.

Exclusion criteria

were: (i) having more than one sibling diagnosed with ASD, and (ii) residing outside Greece.

Treatment and study plan

Psychoeducational program for ASD

Other

6 psychoeducational sessions and one follow-up session for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Primary outcomes

  1. Psychoeducation effectiveness on the knowledge of ASD

    Time frame: 6 months

    The evaluation of psychoeducational program effect on knowledge of ASD is going to be evaluated throw the "Participatory Autism Knowledge Scale" questionnaire (29-item scale) will be used. The original validation studies demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, showing good internal consistency. The standardization and adaptation of the questionnaire into Greek has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

  2. Psychoeducation effectiveness on siblings relationship

    Time frame: 6 months

    A newly developed research measure, designed specifically for this study to assess negative emotions and attitudes of adult siblings toward their autistic sibling. The questionnaire's name is "Adult Sibling Relationships and Autism Spectrum Questionnaire (ASRQ-AS) " - 31-item scale. The standardization and adaptation of the questionnaire into Greek has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

  3. Psychoeducation effectiveness on resilience of siblings of ASD

    Time frame: 6 months

    The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) was developed to assess an individual's ability to recover from stress and adversity. It can also be used to examine factors and outcomes associated with resilience in both mental and physical health, identifying individuals who may benefit from supportive or therapeutic interventions. The internal consistency (Cronbach's α) of the BRS demonstrates good reliability as well as in Greek version.

  4. Psychoeducation effectiveness on the well-being of siblings of ASD

    Time frame: 6 months

    The evaluation of psychoeducational program effect on the well-being is going to be evaluated throw the questionnaire "PERMA-Profiler" (23-item scale). The scale has demonstrated adequate reliability and validity in assessing well-being - Cronbach's α values.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hellenic Mediterranean University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Psychoeducation on Adult Siblings of People With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Apr 11, 2024
Registry last updated
Jul 28, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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