HMN 2026: How ACT-based program helps parents of children with disabilities handle stress

Parents of children with ADHD, autism and other disabilities reported increased psychological flexibility and reduced stress after participating in the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy–based program Navigator ACT. The results come from a study conducted at Karolinska Institutet and published in the journal Autism Research. “The intervention made it easier to be the parent you want to be,” says first author Tiina Holmberg Bergman.

Parenting a child with a disability often involves high and long-term demands. The study examined whether the Navigator ACT group-based program can support stressed and distressed parents. In total, 137 parents of children aged 0–18 years took part. The children had ADHD, autism or other disabilities, such as intellectual disability, motor impairments or acquired brain injuries. Many had more than one diagnosis.

The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. About half of the parents participated in the Navigator ACT program, while the others received standard care within habilitation services. The clearest differences between the groups were seen in psychological flexibility, and the effects remained at follow-up a few months after the program ended.

“Psychological flexibility is about being able to face stress and difficult thoughts and emotions without getting stuck in them, while still choosing how you want to act in everyday life,” explains Bergman, researcher at Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND).

In addition to increased psychological flexibility, parents who participated in Navigator ACT also reported lower levels of parenting stress compared with those who received standard care.

“When psychological flexibility increases, the impact of stress often decreases, even if the stressors are still there. Parents become less reactive in challenging situations, which can strengthen the relationship with the child and make it easier to live a meaningful life despite ongoing challenges,” says Bergman.

Navigator ACT is delivered in a group format, and parents’ own accounts provide insight into how the changes were reflected in everyday life.

“Participants described how the program helped turn a negative downward spiral into a more positive one. They were better able to accept their life situation and learned skills that they continue to use in daily life,” says Bergman.

Many parents also emphasized the importance of meeting others in similar situations. “Being able to share experiences with other parents was perceived as particularly meaningful,” she says.

The study was conducted in collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and Habilitation & Health, Region Stockholm. The program was delivered by regular habilitation staff who had received specific training in Navigator ACT, although they often had limited prior experience of ACT. The results indicate that Navigator ACT is effective even when implemented in routine clinical practice.

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