Date of Award
8-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Brandi Crowe
Committee Member
Dr. Jasmine Townsend
Committee Member
Dr. Lisa Mische-Lawson
Committee Member
Dr. Deborah Tysor
Abstract
Families with teenagers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can experience more stress than families without teenagers with ASD due to individuals with ASD often exhibiting social behaviors that differ from social norms, and parents having to adjust their expectations and future goals for their child with ASD. Rural-dwelling families of teenagers with ASD may experience additional stress due to their having to travel to access therapeutic services. Research focused on family-based services aimed at decreasing stress among rural-dwelling families of teenagers with ASD is lacking. The purpose of this convergent mixed methods study was to explore the feasibility of an eight-week virtually coached nature-based activities program (VCNBAP) and evaluate the effects of program participation on perceived stress. A recreational therapist virtually coached a “lead adult” from each family (n=4) in how to deliver each week’s nature-based activity protocol with their family members; and each family’s lead adult facilitated each week’s activity with their family. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered using pre-post-perceived stress assessments, pre-post-family focus groups, lead adults’ weekly journal entries and coaching sessions, and post-program interview with lead adults. Results indicate the VCNBAP was not feasible for rural-dwelling families with teenagers with ASD and decreases in participants’ perceived stress were not statistically significant. Additional findings provide insight into barriers families experienced that could have influenced the program’s feasibility; and perceived benefits of program participation beyond those associated with stress. Recommendations for revising the VCNBAP protocols to increase feasibility and more directly address family’s stress-coping needs are discussed. Implications for recreational therapy practice and future research are also discussed.
Recommended Citation
Logan, Deborah R., "Virtually Coached Nature-based Activities for Perceived Stress in Rural-dwelling Families with a Teenager with Autism Spectrum Disorder" (2024). All Dissertations. 3766.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/3766
Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5601-9240