Abstract/Summary

Many children experience sensory differences that are associated with disruption to child and family daily occupations and increased maternal stress. Emerging evidence suggests that a one-to-one coaching approach with parents is helpful, but there are numerous gaps in both. The current studies aim to identify gaps in current evidence, to ascertain what mothers find helpful, then to pilot a brief online group coaching intervention based on occupational performance coaching for mothers of children with sensory differences. Study 1: A scoping review identified current knowledge and gaps in the literature, showing that there is some limited evidence for individual or family coaching, but evaluation of group coaching was missing. Study 2 and 3: As the scoping review highlighted that mothers’ voices were rarely heard in studies, qualitative semi-structured interviews with six mothers and then a large-scale survey with 132 participants explored mothers’ everyday experiences. Using both thematic and descriptive analysis, the significant impact of sensory differences on both mothers and children’s everyday life and relationships was clear. Mothers are empowered by relationships based on listening, gaining knowledge, and understanding as well as adapting activities and the environment to accommodate for child’s sensory needs. Supportive social and professional relationships, media, social media, and direct intervention to mothers were reported by mothers as helpful. The survey sample was split by mothers of autistic versus non-autistic children. The mothers of autistic children with sensory differences reported greater levels of challenge in everyday activities and relationships, particularly in the school and community. Supportive relationships, media and parent intervention was equally helpful to both subsamples of mothers of children with sensory differences. Study 4: A pilot study of a brief online group coaching with eleven mothers of children with sensory differences explored the acceptability of the intervention to mothers and demonstrated coaching was perceived to build social networks and reduce maternal stress as well as improve child occupational performance. A wide range of approaches to intervention are helpful to mothers of children with sensory differences including supportive relationships, media, and parent intervention. Brief online group coaching is supported by emerging evidence but requires further study.