Facing Change and Uncertainty: Lessons Learned from Autistic Children and their Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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| Title: | Facing Change and Uncertainty: Lessons Learned from Autistic Children and their Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic. |
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| Authors: | Mgaieth, Farah (AUTHOR), Palmer, Melanie (AUTHOR), Charman, Tony (AUTHOR), Simonoff, Emily (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders. Apr2026, Vol. 56 Issue 4, p1559-1572. 14p. |
| Subjects: | Mental health, Qualitative research, Research funding, Autism, Interviewing, Sex distribution, Judgment sampling, Family relations, Age distribution, Behavior disorders in children, Developmental disabilities, Telemedicine, Thematic analysis, Research methodology, Communication, Videoconferencing, Research, Asperger's syndrome, Psychology of parents, Anxiety disorders, Social support, Grounded theory, Data analysis software, COVID-19 pandemic, Social isolation, Disease complications, Psychosocial factors |
| Abstract: | The COVID-19 pandemic presented a great challenge for individuals around the globe, and particularly for vulnerable populations such as autistic children. This qualitative study explored the experience of autistic children (both verbal and minimally verbal) and their families during the pandemic in August-October 2020 through the lens of 18 parents recruited from an opportunistic follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. Findings revealed that the pandemic was detrimental to the mental health of most parents. School closures, disrupted routines and concerns of the virus were believed by parents to be particularly responsible for increased in their child's behaviour that challenges and anxiety, resulting in changes in acquired skills and development of tics for some. However, other parents reported that increased one-to-one interaction with their child improved their social interaction and communication. Additionally, families felt more able to cope with the situation when supported by their partner, support services and schools. The findings highlight the challenges and benefits experienced by families with an autistic child during the pandemic. They provide valuable insights into potential areas that warrant attention when preparing for future emergencies. Enhancing our ability to respond to the needs of autistic children and their families, and establishing policies that can support their well-being should be prioritised to effectively address future challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | The COVID-19 pandemic presented a great challenge for individuals around the globe, and particularly for vulnerable populations such as autistic children. This qualitative study explored the experience of autistic children (both verbal and minimally verbal) and their families during the pandemic in August-October 2020 through the lens of 18 parents recruited from an opportunistic follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. Findings revealed that the pandemic was detrimental to the mental health of most parents. School closures, disrupted routines and concerns of the virus were believed by parents to be particularly responsible for increased in their child's behaviour that challenges and anxiety, resulting in changes in acquired skills and development of tics for some. However, other parents reported that increased one-to-one interaction with their child improved their social interaction and communication. Additionally, families felt more able to cope with the situation when supported by their partner, support services and schools. The findings highlight the challenges and benefits experienced by families with an autistic child during the pandemic. They provide valuable insights into potential areas that warrant attention when preparing for future emergencies. Enhancing our ability to respond to the needs of autistic children and their families, and establishing policies that can support their well-being should be prioritised to effectively address future challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 01623257 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10803-024-06656-0 |
