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Published on: March 1, 2019
Parent-Reported Behavioural Changes in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy
Magda Di Renzo1, Federico Bianchi Di Castelbianco1, Elena Vanadia1
1Institute of Ortofonologia, IT.
Insights
The COVID-19 lockdown negatively impacted children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), increasing repetitive behaviors and sleep issues. However, continued parental support, even online, helped families adapt to these changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) involve social interaction and communication impairments.
- COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns mandated social distancing, disrupting in-person therapies for ASD.
- Families of children with ASD faced unprecedented challenges during the initial lockdown period.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report clinical changes in parents of children with ASD during the first month of COVID-19 lockdown in Italy.
- To assess the impact of lockdown on behavioral and adaptive functioning in children with ASD.
- To understand the role of continued parental support in managing these changes.
Main Methods:
- Interviews with families of 63 children with ASD using standardized questionnaires.
- Data collected in February and April 2020, covering the initial lockdown phase.
- Focus on behavioral changes, self-care, sensory sensitivities, and aggression.
Main Results:
- Approximately 30% of ASD children showed increased restricted and repetitive behaviors.
- Motor restlessness, sleep disturbances, irritability, and mood dysregulation were also elevated.
- No significant changes were observed in personal self-care, sensory sensitivities, or aggression.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 lockdown adversely affected the psychosocial well-being of children with ASD.
- Continuity of family support, including online parental counseling, was crucial.
- Parental support helped families reframe behavioral changes and understand their adaptive functions.
Abstract:
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterized by impairments in social interaction and reciprocal communication. During a pandemic, when social distancing becomes mandatory for all, both parents and children are not supported in-person by their therapists and cannot participate in usual therapies. This study reports the main clinical changes experienced by parents of children with during the first month of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. Using standardized questionnaires, the families of 63 ASD children were interviewed in February and April 2020. Findings showed an increase in restricted and repetitive behaviours in about 30% of the sample; also, motor restlessness and sleep disturbances increased, with greater irritability and mood dysregulation. On the other hand, no changes emerged in personal self-care autonomies, in taste/smell sensitivity, and in auto or other-directed aggression. Despite the undeniable negative impact that lockdown can have on the psychosocial well-being of children, having maintained a continuity in supporting families, parental counselling (even if online and not in-person) helped families to redefine the meanings of behavioural changes of their children and to understand their adaptive functionality.
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