How parents of children with autism spectrum disorder experience the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives and insights on the new normal.
Gulden Bozkus-Genc, Sunagul Sani-Bozkurt
PMID 35180544WHAT IT FOUND
Parents of children with autism described lockdown as initially offering rest and family time, but prolonged isolation led to severe stress, routine disruption, and behavioral crises.
They urgently requested remote psychological support and adapted educational strategies to maintain engagement.
Key findings
01Positive aspects like resting and quality time faded as lockdowns extended, replaced by stress from disrupted routines and distance education challenges.
02Children exhibited severe behavioral reactions to uncertainty and isolation, including threats of self-harm and increased technology addiction.
03Parents requested remote counseling and home health services to manage psychological distress and routine care without hospital visits.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Small sample size of only 8 parents, limiting the generalizability of findings. Highly unbalanced gender representation with 7 mothers and only 1 father. Data collected in one country (Turkey) during a specific phase of the pandemic, so cultural and temporal context may not apply elsewhere. Lack of detailed information on children's verbal abilities and specific functional levels, which may influence parental experiences. No data on the children's own perspectives, only parent reports.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these themes as representative of all parents of children with autism. The study involved only 8 participants from Turkey, mostly mothers, and reflects experiences during a specific early phase of the pandemic. Findings cannot be generalized to other cultures, family structures, or later stages of the pandemic without further research.