Repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic for people with autism and their family members: A scoping review.
Olga Feitosa Braga Teixeira, Samyra Paula Lustoza Xavier, Nuno Damácio de Carvalho Félix and 3 others
PMID 36629727WHAT IT FOUND
People with autism spectrum disorder and their families reported disrupted routines, reduced service access, behavior and mental health concerns, and caregiver stress during pandemic restrictions.
Some also described benefits, such as reduced sensory and social demands and more family time.
Key findings
01The review mapped 46 articles about pandemic effects on people with autism spectrum disorder and their family members.
02The mapped studies reported emotional harms in people with ASD, including mood change, stress and anxiety, and mental distress and low quality of life in family members.
03Some mapped studies reported benefits, including more family time, teaching autonomy and communication skills, and reduced sensory or social burden.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The review did not assess the quality of the included studies. Many included sources were comments, editorials, letters or other low-level reports. The authors found no high-level evidence such as clinical trials or large samples. Because it is a scoping review, it maps reported experiences and does not establish cause or treatment benefit.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that lockdown caused these outcomes or that any service model works. The review includes comments, editorials and letters, does not assess study quality, and reports experiences rather than tested effects.