ERIC Number: EJ1479464
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Sep
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1088-3576
EISSN: EISSN-1538-4829
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Parents' Perceptions of Anxiety Treatment for Autistic Children
Sandra L. Cepeda1; Minjee Kook2; Andrew G. Guzick2; Jill Ehrenreich-May1; Sophie C. Schneider2; Eric A. Storch2
Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, v40 n3 p165-175 2025
Despite the high prevalence of co-occurring anxiety in autistic children, little is known about parental perceptions of anxiety treatment in the context of autism. This study investigated how 101 U.S. parents perceived the acceptability, effectiveness, and willingness-to-use of four commonly available anxiety treatments for autistic youth: applied behavior analysis (ABA), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medications (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; SSRIs), and alternative interventions (e.g., specialized diets, nutritional supplements). While all four treatments were perceived favorably, parents rated CBT as more acceptable, more likely to be effective, and more willing-to-use over ABA or alternative interventions. Medication was also rated as likely to be effective over alternative interventions, but not over ABA or CBT. Parent perception ratings did not significantly differ between CBT and medication. Overall, CBT and, to a slightly more limited extent, SSRI medications, may be acceptable and approachable treatment options for autistic youth with co-occurring anxiety.
Descriptors: Anxiety, Parent Attitudes, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Intervention, Program Effectiveness, Applied Behavior Analysis, Cognitive Restructuring, Behavior Modification, Drug Therapy, Nutrition, Dietetics, Therapy, Age Differences, Severity (of Disability)
SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA; 2Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

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