Autism : the international journal of research and practice
June 1, 2024
Chad Stecher, Broc A Pagni, Sara Cloonan et al.
11 citations
Autistic adults face elevated depression risk, which harms daily functioning and life outcomes. App-based meditation helps neurotypical adults manage depression, but long-term evidence for autistic adults was lacking. Anchoring, a habit-formation strategy, had not been tested in this group. This work shows that combining anchoring with app-based meditation is feasible and effective for establishing meditation habits in autistic adults. These habits maintained reduced depressive symptoms over six months. The findings indicate anchoring-based habit formation is a promising technique for building healthy habits in autistic adults, and app-based meditation offers a durable self-care option for managing depression in this population.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice
July 1, 2025
Yona Lunsky, Madelaine Carter, Sue Hutton et al.
5 citations
A randomized controlled trial with 63 autistic adults across Canada found that a 6-week manualized, autistic-informed, group-based virtual mindfulness intervention reduced overall distress and stress, and improved self-compassion, mindfulness, and mental wellbeing, with gains maintained at an 8-week follow-up. The waitlist control group showed no changes. Neither group reported changes in autistic community connectedness or interoceptive sensitivity. The findings support virtual delivery of autistic-informed mindfulness programs.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice
July 1, 2025
Nicole L Matthews, Melissa M Mitchell, Hannah Honda et al.
5 citations
A telehealth mindfulness program for autistic adolescents and their caregivers reduced depression symptoms in adolescents and anxiety symptoms in female adolescents. The MINDful TIME program included eight weekly group sessions via Zoom and regular use of a mindfulness meditation app. Forty-two adolescent-parent dyads were randomly assigned to the treatment or a delayed treatment control group. Ninety percent of treatment dyads completed the program, attending over 90% of sessions. Treatment adolescents showed large reductions in parent-reported depression symptoms compared to controls, and female adolescents showed reductions in anxiety symptoms. Parents reported improved mindfulness, well-being, and adolescent-parent relationship functioning.