How family factors affect emotion regulation in young children with autism
Official title: The Role of Family Contextual Factors in the Development of Emotion Regulation in Young Children on the Autism Spectrum
Funded at Texas Christian University · NIH-10796057 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how family relationships affect young children with autism in managing their emotions, aiming to find ways to help them feel and express themselves better, which could also lower their chances of facing other mental health challenges later on.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Christian University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Worth, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $391,233 |
| NIH project number | 1R15HD111877-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10796057 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young children aged 0-11 years who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Children who do not have autism or are outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how family dynamics influence the ability of young children on the autism spectrum to regulate their emotions. By examining the interplay between a child's characteristics and their family context, the study aims to identify specific factors that contribute to emotion dysregulation. The findings could lead to targeted interventions designed to help these children manage their emotions better, potentially reducing the risk of developing co-occurring mental health disorders. The research will compare children with autism to their non-autistic peers to understand these dynamics more clearly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved emotional regulation strategies for children with autism, reducing the likelihood of mental health issues.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that family context plays a significant role in emotional development, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ekas, Naomi Vanessa — Texas Christian University
- Study coordinator: Ekas, Naomi Vanessa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How parent-child interactions affect emotion regulation in preschoolers with autism
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Autism Caregiver Coaching in Africa for Young Children
A Duke University-led project in South Africa aims to help young children with autism by training caregivers to deliver proven coaching strategies through non-specialist providers.
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Autism and Self-regulation: Remote Testing of Heart-Related Signals in Kids
A study to see if remote testing can safely measure how children with autism and disruptive behavior manage emotions and self-control by tracking heart signals and other markers.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.