Evaluating the effectiveness of mind-body skills training based on yoga techniques in children on the Autism Spectrum

The research study proposes a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) to assess the efficacy of a yoga-based mind-body skills training program with approximately 30 children on the Autism Spectrum (ASD) in the intervention condition and 30 children with ASD in the wait-list control condition along with one of their parents/caregivers. The training will be run in a group format and contain 5 parent-child dyads in each group. Participants will be matched per gender given the gender-specific differences observed in children with ASD and will be randomly assigned using a computer-generated method to either the yoga-based mind-body skills training group or the wait-list control group. The participants in the intervention condition will take part in the 6-session yoga-based mind-body skills training program called "The Incredible Explorers." The program will be delivered once per week for 6 consecutive weeks at the School of Psychology, University of Queensland. Each session will be delivered face-to-face and run for around 45 minutes. Each 45-minutes session will be divided into two parts. In the first part, both parents and the children will participate and practice gentle breath-centered movements. The lead researcher and two other facilitators will deliver the program. In the second part, the parents and the children will split up into two separate groups. Whilst the children learn mindful exercises through games and activities in the children-only group with two facilitators, the parents will discuss any process issues and learn different ways to support their children with the practice outside the sessions. This group will be facilitated by the lead researcher, Radhika Tanksale. At the end of each session, home tasks and home practice will be encouraged. The parents will be provided with a checklist to mark off the days the tasks were practised by the children during the week and will be reviewed in the next session. This checklist will assist to monitor the adherence to the intervention. A register of attendance at each session will also be maintained. The participants in the wait-list group will wait for 12 weeks before commencing the program. This is to ensure that a controlled comparison can be done at pre, post, and 6-week follow-up. The exercises included in the program will be simple, gentle, breath-centered mindful movement practices. The purpose of the exercises is not to improve strength, flexibility, and balance or increase heart rate, rather improve mindful attention through gentle movements. The mind-body practices will include breathing practices, mindfulness or meditation, and relaxation practices. Participants will be taught to pay mindful attention to their breath, their sensations, their feelings, and their thoughts that arise in the moment, without judgement. Examples of the some of the exercises include paying mindful attention to walking, standing tall like a mountain and being aware of the different sensations they notice with their feet touching the ground, noticing how their belly rises and falls with each breath, as well as progressive muscle relaxation. The mindfulness-based activities in the child-only group will include activities such as mindful listening of the sound of a bell. Separate manuals for both facilitators and participants will be created to ensure consistency. Psychology interns, who will assist the lead researcher, Ms Radhika Tanksale in delivering the program will be recruited and trained in a half-day workshop and supervised by the researcher prior to the commencement of the RCT. Assessments will be done at three different points for the intervention condition, Time 1 or pre or baseline, Time 2 or post-6-week intervention program, Time 3 or 6-week after the completion of the intervention program or follow-up and four times for the wait-list control condition Time 1,2,3 and at the end of the 6-week intervention ( time 4). The lead researcher will be supervised by Associate Professor Kate Sofronoff and Dr Jeanie Sheffield.