"Improving Sleep in Autistic Youth: Findings from the SIESTA Study"
Join the PRACTICenter Connections research series for a presentation by Dr. Tori Van Dyk, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology.
Over 80% of autistic youth have sleep difficulties. These difficulties are associated with increased child anxiety, depression, aggression, and disruptive behavior in addition to being a significant source of stress for parents. This presentation will describe the findings from a randomized controlled trial of SIESTA, a parent-mediated, telehealth-delivered, behavioral sleep intervention for autistic youth. Feasibility of the intervention and improvements in child sleep will be presented. Preliminary findings for secondary outcomes, including changes in parental stress, will also be reviewed. Attendees will be able to describe components of the three-session intervention in addition to the empirical evidence supporting this approach.