Virtual parent-mediated yoga for children with autism and their parents: A pilot study
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2026
Department/School
Psychology
Publication Title
Research in Autism
Abstract
Background: Parent-mediated intervention (PMI) has shown promise in supporting the development of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, limited research has explored the effects of parent-mediated yoga intervention (PMYI) in virtual formats, especially on the quality of life (QOL) of both children and their parents. Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a virtual PMYI on the QOL of children with ASD, as well as on parenting efficacy and parental well-being. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed involving 27 parent-child dyads, divided into an intervention group and a waitlist comparison group. The intervention group participated in a 9-week, home-based, virtually guided yoga program, which included virtual Synchronized Parent-Child Yoga and Asynchronous Parent Training Sessions. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using standardized QOL measures for both children and parents, alongside parenting self-efficacy scales. Results: Although no statistically significant between-group differences were observed postintervention, within-group analysis revealed significant improvements in the social functioning dimension of QOL for both groups, with the intervention group showing a larger effect size (eta 2p = 0.62). Additionally, parents in the intervention group reported significant improvements in overall QOL and parenting self-efficacy, whereas the comparison group experienced a decline in psychological well-being. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a virtual PMYI may serve as a promising, family-centered approach to enhance the social functioning of children with ASD and improve the emotional resilience and caregiving confidence of parents. These results highlight the potential value of incorporating yoga-based physical activity into virtual PMI, especially in post-pandemic educational and rehabilitation contexts.
Link to Published Version
Recommended Citation
Song, Y., Shen, B., Pang, Y., Dong, L., & Bo, J. (2026). Virtual parent-mediated yoga for children with autism and their parents: A pilot study. Research in Autism, 132, article 202801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reia.2026.202801
Comments
J. Bo is a faculty member in EMU's Department of Psychology.