%0 Journal Article
%T Reducing Depressive Symptoms Among Latina Mothers of Autistic Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
%A Yu AP
%A Zeng W
%A Lopez K
%A Magaña S
%J Am J Intellect Dev Disabil
%V 129
%N 4
%D 2024 Jul 1
%M 38917994
%F 2.297
%R 10.1352/1944-7558-129.4.294
%X This study examines the intervention effect of a culturally tailored parent education program in reducing depressive symptoms among Latina mothers of autistic children. In this two-site randomized waitlist-control study (n = 109 mother-child dyads), a peer-to-peer mentoring (promotora) model was used to deliver an intervention that was designed to increase mothers' self-efficacy and use of evidence-based strategies. We assessed mothers' depressive symptom (CES-D) scores at three time points and used linear mixed models to determine whether their scores significantly changed from baseline to postintervention (Time 2) and at 4 months postintervention (Time 3). Results show that mothers in the intervention group reported a significant decrease in mean depressive symptom scores at Time 2 and that the effect was maintained at Time 3 with intermediate to medium effect sizes. There were no differences in results across sites. Findings suggest that Parents Taking Action, a culturally tailored intervention led by peer mentors, showed a significant effect both immediately after the intervention and 4 months postintervention in reducing depressive symptoms among Latina mothers of autistic children.