(PS5-36) The Impact of a Virtual Space-based Psychoeducation Class on Key Risk Factors for Childhood Anxiety and Parental Self-compassion

Childhood anxiety disorders affect 20.5% of youth worldwide (Benton et al., 2021). Although there are well-supported interventions for childhood anxiety, most youth with anxiety disorders do not receive services (Child Mind Institute, 2018), putting them at risk for poor academic, social, and emotional functioning and a greater likelihood of severe mental health disorders in adulthood (Mundy et al., 2022; Essau et al., 2014). Common barriers include a shortage of providers, long waitlists, high costs, time constraints, and transportation difficulties (Radez et al., 2021). Innovation aimed at increasing access to care is urgently needed. There is growing evidence that parent-based interventions for childhood anxiety can be just as, if not more effective than child-based interventions (Creswell et al., 2022). Special attention has been given to the role of parental accommodation in childhood anxiety, with research demonstrating that reductions in parental accommodation are associated with greater treatment outcomes (Lebowitz et al., 2013; Salloum et al., 2018). Parental self-compassion has been found to reduce parental stress and anxiety (Gerber et al., 2021; Jefferson et al., 2020), which may also benefit outcomes given family accommodation is highly associated with caregiver burden (Lebowitz, 2017). Parent-based digital health interventions targeting parental accommodation may serve as powerful tools to mitigate risk for pediatric anxiety and offer a time-limited, cost-effective option. A 6-week parent psychoeducational class based on the evidence-based treatment Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE, Lebowitz et al., 2020) was developed in response to this growing need. The class targets family accommodation to address symptoms of parent/child anxiety, parental stress, and compassion for oneself and others. A pilot is ongoing to determine feasibility and potential impact on key risk factors for childhood anxiety.  To date, N = 14 have participated in the class. Participants include a diverse group of parents who consented to the study upon registering for the class, offered virtually at an academic hospital. Measures include: Parenting Stress Index (PSI-4; Abidin, 1995), Screen for Childhood Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED; Birmaher et al., 1997, 1999), Family Accommodation Scale (FASA; Lebowitz et al., 2013), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7; Spitzer et al., 2006) Compassion Scale (CS; Pommier et al., 2019), and Self-Compassion Scale Short Form (SCS-SF; Raes et al., 2011). preliminary analyses are promising, indicating significant reductions in the PSI-4 (p < .05) and SCARED (p < .05). Data collection continues, with an anticipated N = 25 by June 2024. Mixed methods results, clinical implications, and directions for future research will be discussed.