Research

Funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Collaborators: Cameron Neece and Holly Morrell (Loma Linda University)

In this randomized controlled trial, we tested two stress-reduction interventions for parents of autistic preschoolers. Although both Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Psychoeducational Support significantly reduced parenting stress, MBSR reduced parenting stress more than did Psychoeducational Support. Benefits were similar for in-person and online versions of these interventions. Our primary study outcomes are reported in Neece, Fenning et al., 2023 and in Fenning, Neece et al., 2024. We also examined intervention effects on parenting behavior and child outcomes, and are currently preparing several related papers.

Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration

Collaborators: Robin Steinberg-Epstein, Kelly McKinnon-Bermingham (University of California, Irvine), Eric Butter, Dan Coury, Kimberly Hammersmith, Megan Norris, Charles Albright, Jessica Scherr, Kevin Stephenson, Amy Hess (Nationwide Children’s Hospital), Karen Kuhlthau, Eric Macklin, James Chan, Frances Lu (Massachusetts General Hospital), Richard Spauldin and John Guijon (Health Smiles for Kids of Orange County)

Many children with autism have difficulty participating in dental care and experience significant unmet dental needs. We created a new parenting intervention to support oral hygiene and oral health, and tested this intervention using a randomized controlled design. Relative to a psychoeducational toolkit, our novel intervention significantly improved children’s behavioral engagement in home dental hygiene, increased the frequency of twice-daily toothbrushing, and enhanced oral health by reducing visible plaque. Children participating in our intervention also developed comparatively fewer cavities than children only receiving the toolkit. Primary study results are reported in Fenning et al., 2022 and Fenning et al., 2023. A video walkthrough can be viewed here and a related podcast by the Autism Science Foundation can be accessed here. We are continuing to disseminate results from this multi-site project. 

Funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Collaborators: Jason Baker (California State University, Fullerton), Daniel Messinger (University of Miami), Stephen Erath (Auburn University), Brian Baucom (University of Utah)

Our work in this area has examined the role of the autonomic nervous system, which includes the sympathetic “fight/flight” system and the parasympathetic “rest/digest” system, in understanding emotion regulation and behavior in autistic children. Our findings suggest that certain autonomic arousal tendencies may increase risk for emotion dysregulation and behavioral difficulties in this population. However, aspects of parenting may buffer these autonomic vulnerabilities. Such findings have important implications for thinking about development in autism and how intervention supports may be tailored to best help children and families. We have published a number of papers on these topics. Key examples include: Fenning et al., 2017; Baker et al., 2018; Fenning et al., 2019; and Baker et al., 2020.

Collaborator: Jason Baker (California State University, Fullerton)

Autistic children experience heightened risk for emotion dysregulation, which has been linked to elevated rates of co-occurring emotional and behavioral disorders. Our research in this domain has examined child and family contributions to the development of emotion regulation in children with autism. In addition to exploring the role of physiology as described above, we have also examined parenting factors that may influence child emotion regulation, particularly the quality of parental co-regulatory support. Core papers on these topics include a recent paper with CMC ’25 student Perri McElvain (Baker, Fenning & McElvain, 2025) as well as several others, including: Fenning et al., 2018; Baker, Fenning et al., 2019; Moffit, Baker, & Fenning, 2021; and Baker, Fenning et al., 2022. Our current work continues to examine core developmental processes as well as avenues for enhancing support for autistic children’s regulatory development.

Collaborator: Jason Baker (California State University, Fullerton)

We strive to enhance understanding of parenting in the context of neurodevelopmental difference through careful examination of family dynamics, including parent-child interaction, parental co-regulatory support, and parent-child attunement. Study findings highlight important family contributions to social, behavioral and clinical outcomes in children with autism and related neurodiversity. We have also investigated determinants of parenting that may provide avenues for tailored support, especially as related to parenting cognitions and parenting stress. Key papers on these topics include Fenning et al., 2011; Fenning & Baker, 2012; Fenning et al., 2014; Baker, Fenning et al., 2019; Stephenson, Fenning et al., 2023; Benjamin, Krantz, Fenning et al., 2024; Benjamin et al., 2025[RF1]