Virtual Group–Based Mindfulness Intervention for Autistic Adults: a Feasibility Study

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Lunsky, Y., Redquest, B., Albaum, C., Hutton, S., Share, M., Share-Strom, D., & Weiss, J. (2022). Virtual Group–Based Mindfulness Intervention for Autistic Adults: a Feasibility Study. Mindfulness, 13(7), 1706-1718. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01909-4

Publication date: 13 Jun 2022 Added to AutiHub: 30 Sep 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
7
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 7 (14.3%)
  1. Yona Lunsky
  2. Brianne Redquest
  3. Carly Albaum
  4. Sue Hutton
  1. Maxine Share *
  2. Daniel Share-Strom
  3. Jonathan Weiss

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Although mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to be helpful in reducing psychological distress in autistic adults, limited research has explored virtual delivery in the autism community. We designed an adapted virtual group-based mindfulness intervention, based on input from autistic adults, and evaluated its feasibility in terms of demand, acceptability, implementation, practicality, adaptation, and limited efficacy testing. METHODS: Informed by an online needs assessment survey of 77 autistic adults, 37 individuals completed a six-week autism informed manualized course delivered virtually. Participants completed pre, post, and 12-week follow up, and also provided qualitative feedback. RESULTS: There was a demand for the course, adaptations were successful, and participants indicated good acceptability of the intervention. Open-ended feedback highlighted advantages and challenges with the technology, the benefits of connecting with other autistic adults, and unique aspects of the mindfulness instruction. Participants reported reduced levels of distress which were maintained at three-month follow-up, and increased mindfulness, and self-compassion. CONCLUSIONS: Autism-informed adaptations to standard mindfulness-based interventions can lead to self-reported improvements in mindfulness, self-compassion, and distress by autistic adults. Continued research with outcome measures tailored toward autistic adults will be important, during and post-pandemic.

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These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 01:01.

Cited references
50
With a DOI
47
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
2
3 / 50 (6.0%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
4 / 50 (8.0%)
References with detected author names
48 / 50 (96.0%)
Without detected author names
2
Without a structured title
4
Without a stable identifier
2
References with raw author names still to review
2
References with external metadata lookup issues
1
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
231
From DOI or external metadata
231
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
5
57 / 231 (24.7%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 174 / 231 (75.3%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
12 / 231 (5.2%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 12 / 57 (21.1%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 12 / 213 (5.6%).
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