Resilience interventions for the family with autistic children: a systematic review

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition in which parenting presents considerable challenges. Family resilience is a critical protective factor against adversity. This systematic review aims to identify and evaluate family resilience interventions, based on experimental study designs, for families of children with ASD.

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched 5 electronic databases for peer-reviewed studies published in English prior to July 2025. Eligible studies were empirical studies employing randomized controlled trials (RCT) or quasi-experimental designs; targeted parents/caregivers of children with a clinical diagnosed of ASD; focused on enhancing family resilience; and used validated quantitative measures. Two authors independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts, extracted study characteristics, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane tool. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion or consultation with a third author.

Nine studies were ultimately included. Most interventions were delivered in person, and participants were predominantly mothers. Two primary intervention orientations were identified, family-centered and individual-centered. The majority of studies were conducted in Western countries. Eight studies reported medium to large effect sizes for improvement in family resilience, while 1 study did not report sufficient statistics to calculate effect size.

Despite certain limitations, the findings of this review suggest that future studies should consider cultural differences and contextual adaptation when implementing interventions across diverse cultural settings. The review also highlights the importance of accounting for the differing profiles, needs and preferences of mothers and fathers of children with ASD when designing and facilitating interventions.