Boosting motivation to do everyday living skills
Enhancing Motivation to Complete Daily Living Skills Among Transition-aged Autistic Youth
This project will try three different coaching programs to see if they help 16- to 25-year-old autistic teens and young adults feel more motivated and do everyday living tasks more often.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 180 (estimated) |
| Ages | 16 Years to 25 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| Trial ID | NCT07159308 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will compare three programs that target different kinds of motivation—one using Motivational Interviewing to build internal reasons, one using behavioral strategies and rewards to build external reasons, and one combining both approaches. Participants are autistic individuals aged 16–25 who choose a daily living skill they want to do more often; sessions are audio- and video-recorded and include input from an important person in the participant's life. Outcomes include changes in self-reported motivation, actual completion of the chosen daily living skill, feelings of empowerment, and whether participant characteristics predict who benefits. The study is conducted at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and compares the three interventions over a defined intervention period.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are autistic individuals aged 16–25 who can communicate in full English sentences, do not have an intellectual disability, can identify a daily living skill to work on, can provide informed consent, and can have sessions audio- and video-recorded with an identified important person involved.
Not a fit: People with an intellectual disability, active suicidal or severe psychiatric symptoms, or who cannot communicate in full English sentences are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from these interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the programs could help autistic young people increase independence by improving motivation and regular completion of everyday living skills.
How similar studies have performed: Motivational Interviewing and behavioral reinforcement strategies have shown promise in related groups, but directly comparing intrinsic, extrinsic, and combined approaches for daily living skills in autistic young adults is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria for Autistic Teens and Young Adults: * Age 16-25 years * Participants reporting an autism diagnosis from a qualified provider (Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Developmental Pediatrician, Neurologist). When possible, diagnosis will be confirmed through the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Electronic Health Record (EHR). * Must identify an important person who is able to communicate by understanding and speaking full sentences in English * Ability to communicate by understanding and using full sentences in English * Informed Consent * Be willing to have sessions audio- and video-recorded Exclusion Criteria for Autistic Teens and Young Adults: * Diagnosis of Intellectual Disability * Participant is currently considered a suicide risk in the opinion of the Investigator or is currently demonstrating active suicidal or homicidal ideation or self-injurious behavior. * Current, comorbid psychiatric disorder with sufficiently intense symptoms in the opinion of the Investigator that these symptoms may confound treatment. * Changes to mental health treatment plan (ex. starting or ending therapy or psychotropic medications over the course of this intervention). * Participation in a prior trial of our intrinsic motivation condition Inclusion Criteria for Important Person: * Age 18 years or older * Must attend at least 15 minutes of each treatment session * Ability to communicate by understanding and using full sentences in English * Informed consent * Be willing to have sessions audio- and video-recorded Exclusion Criteria for Important Person: \- Is not willing to support the autistic teen/young adult with their daily living skill goal
Where this trial is running
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- CHOP Center for Advanced Behavioral Healthcare — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Benjamin E Yerys, PhD — Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Benjamin E Yerys, PhD
- Email: YerysB@chop.edu
- Phone: 267-425-1173
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.