31.1 THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE WELL-BEING OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Background: When COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic, many countries imposed severe lockdowns that changed families’ routines and negatively impacted on parents’ and children’s mental health. Several studies on families with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) revealed that lockdown increased the difficulties faced by individuals with ASD, as well as parental distress. No studies have analyzed the interplay between parental distress, children’s emotional responses, and adaptive behaviors in children with ASD considering the period of the mandatory lockdown. Furthermore, we compared families with children on the spectrum and families with typically developing (TD) children in terms of their distress, children’s emotional responses, and behavioral adaptation. Methods: In this study, 120 parents of children aged 5–10 years (53 with ASD) participated. Results: In the four tested models, children’s positive and negative emotional responses mediated the impact of parental distress on children’s playing activities. In the ASD group, parents reported that their children expressed more positive emotions, but fewer playing activities, than TD children. Families with children on the spectrum reported greater behavioral problems during the lockdown and more parental distress. Conclusions: Our findings inform the interventions designed for parents to reduce distress and to develop coping strategies to better manage the caregiver–child relationship.

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Recognition of Emotions from Situational Contexts and the Impact of a Mind Reading Intervention in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Child Psychiatry & Human Development ◽

10.1007/s10578-021-01139-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Denise Davidson ◽

Elizabeth Hilvert ◽

Adrien M. Winning ◽

Michael Giordano

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Reading Intervention ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Mind Reading ◽

Situational Contexts ◽

Recognition Of Emotions ◽

The Impact

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The Impact of COVID-19 on the Adaptive Functioning, Behavioral Problems, and Repetitive Behaviors of Italian Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Observational Study

Children ◽

10.3390/children8020096 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 96

Author(s):

Martina Siracusano ◽

Eugenia Segatori ◽

Assia Riccioni ◽

Leonardo Emberti Gialloreti ◽

Paolo Curatolo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Behavioral Problems ◽

Adaptive Functioning ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Repetitive Behaviors ◽

Assessment System ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Adaptive Skills ◽

The Impact

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families have represented a fragile population on which the extreme circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak may have doubly impaired. Interruption of therapeutical interventions delivered in-person and routine disruption constituted some of the main challenges they had to face. This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on adaptive functioning, behavioral problems, and repetitive behaviors of children with ASD. In a sample of 85 Italian ASD children (mean age 7 years old; 68 males, 17 females), through a comparison with a baseline evaluation performed during the months preceding COVID-19, we evaluated whether after the compulsory home confinement any improvement or worsening was reported by parents of ASD individuals using standardized instruments (Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (Second Edition), Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist, Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised). No significant worsening in the adaptive functioning, problematic, and repetitive behaviors emerged after the compulsory home confinement. Within the schooler children, clinical stability was found in reference to both adaptive skills and behavioral aspects, whereas within preschoolers, a significant improvement in adaptive skills emerged and was related to the subsistence of web-delivered intervention, parental work continuance, and online support during the lockdown.

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Stability and change in resolution of diagnosis among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: Child and parental contributions

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s095457941500067x ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 27 (4pt1) ◽

pp. 1045-1057 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Nurit Yirmiya ◽

Ifat Seidman ◽

Nina Koren-Karie ◽

David Oppenheim ◽

Smadar Dolev

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Well Being ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Maternal Attachment ◽

Child Characteristics ◽

Mothers And Fathers ◽

Mental Age ◽

Parental Characteristics

AbstractThe contribution of change over time in parent and child characteristics to parents’ resolution of child's diagnosis was examined among 78 mothers and fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Children's characteristics (e.g., mental age and severity of symptoms), parental characteristics (e.g., attachment-related anxiety and stress level), and parents’ resolution of their child's diagnosis (resolved vs. unresolved) were examined at Time 1, and reassessed 3 years later at Time 2. Results indicated a deferential contribution of change in parent and child characteristics among mothers and fathers. An increase in child symptom severity and in maternal attachment-related anxiety, as well as longer durations of time since receiving the diagnosis, significantly predicted maternal resolved status at Time 2. Conversely, none of the changes in children's or paternal characteristics predicted paternal resolved status at Time 2. Results are discussed in relation to child and parental contributions to resolution, the differences in the adjustment and well-being of mothers and fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder, parental growth following receiving the diagnosis, and the need for intervention components specific to parental resolution and attachment-related anxiety.

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Chapter 19 The impact of robots on children with autism spectrum disorder

Autism Imaging and Devices ◽

10.1201/9781315371375-20 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 397-418 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zhi Zheng ◽

Esubalew Bekele ◽

Amy Swanson ◽

Amy Weitlauf ◽

Zachary Warren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

The Impact

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Online Communication Training for Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Communication Disorders Quarterly ◽

10.1177/1525740117727491 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 415-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sarah N. Douglas ◽

Rebecca Kammes ◽

Erica Nordquist

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Parent Training ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Online Training ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Communication Strategy ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Probe Design ◽

Single Subject ◽

The Impact

Parent training is an essential part of quality programming for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, limited research exists exploring online training approaches to support parents of children with both ASD and complex communication needs (CCN; e.g., limited verbal ability), despite the many benefits that online training might have for these parents and the overall sustainability and scalability of such approaches. This study utilized a single-subject multiple probe design with three parents and their children to explore the impact of online parent training for parents and their children with ASD and CCN. Training included online interactive components to teach parents a communication strategy, as well as live practice sessions during which parents implemented the strategy, had an opportunity to ask questions, and engaged in self-reflection. Results indicated that training increased communication opportunities and responses provided by parents, and communication by the child. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.

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Gastrointestinal concerns in children with autism spectrum disorder: A qualitative study of family experiences

Autism ◽

10.1177/13623613211062667 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 136236132110626

Author(s):

Calliope Holingue ◽

Ohemaa Poku ◽

Danika Pfeiffer ◽

Sarah Murray ◽

M. Daniele Fallin

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Well Being ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Quality Healthcare ◽

Gastrointestinal Distress ◽

Gastrointestinal Problems ◽

Verbal Behaviors

Gastrointestinal distress is a prevalent issue in the autism spectrum disorder community, with implications for the person living with autism spectrum disorder and their families. However, the experiences of families caring for a child with co-occurring autism spectrum disorder and gastrointestinal symptoms have not been explored to date. We conducted one-on-one semi-structured interviews with 12 parents of children with co-occurring autism spectrum disorder and gastrointestinal symptoms. Using an inductive analysis approach, drawing on phenomenology, we identified four major themes across interviews. First, parents reported that their child had difficulty verbally communicating the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms, leading parents to rely on bodily signs and non-verbal behaviors to recognize when their child was experiencing gastrointestinal distress (Theme 1). Next, gastrointestinal issues impacted the child’s well-being and the ability to participate in and fully engage in activities (Theme 2), and the family’s well-being (Theme 3). Finally, parents often experienced challenges with seeking accessible and quality healthcare for their child’s gastrointestinal problems (Theme 4). These findings elucidate the incredible toll that gastrointestinal symptoms have on the overall wellness of children with autism spectrum disorder and their families. Lay abstract Gastrointestinal problems are common in the autism spectrum disorder community and may affect both the person with autism spectrum disorder and their families. However, little research is available on the experiences of families who have a child with both autism spectrum disorder and gastrointestinal symptoms. We held one-on-one interviews with 12 parents of children who had both autism spectrum disorder and gastrointestinal symptoms. We analyzed the raw text responses from these interviews and identified four main themes. First, parents shared that their children had trouble verbally communicating when they were experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms (Theme 1). This led parents to use bodily signs, such as changes in the stool, and non-verbal behaviors, such as irritability, to recognize when their child was having gastrointestinal symptoms. Next, gastrointestinal issues affected both the child’s well-being and their ability to attend class and extracurricular or social activities (Theme 2). The gastrointestinal issues also affected the family’s routines, overall well-being, and their ability to go out and do activities together as a family (Theme 3). Finally, parents often had challenges receiving accessible and quality healthcare for their child’s gastrointestinal problems (Theme 4). Together, these findings highlight the enormous burden that gastrointestinal symptoms have on the wellness of children with autism spectrum disorder and their families.

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