Comparison of effects of interventions to promote the mental health of parents of children with autism: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders often face persistent challenges in social interaction and engage in repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. Parenting a child with autism can profoundly affect parents both physically and psychologically, potentially leading to negative impacts on their mental health. This study employs a network meta-analysis methodology to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of mental health interventions specifically designed for parents of autistic children. A total of 69 empirical intervention studies involving 4213 parents of autistic children were included in the analysis. Employing the frequency framework model and utilizing Stata 16.0 software, we quantitatively analyzed the impact of various interventions on anxiety, depression, parenting stress, and parenting self-efficacy. Our findings indicate that mindfulness-based interventions demonstrate the highest efficacy in reducing parenting stress, while cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in alleviating anxiety and depression in parents of children with autism. Psychoeducational interventions have shown significant benefits in mitigating parental anxiety, depression, and parenting stress, and acceptance and commitment (ACT) displays promising outcomes in reducing depression. We also elaborate on the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the effectiveness of these interventions. This network meta-analysis presents valuable insights for the development of targeted interventions to provide support to parents of children with autism.