Autistic children and their parents during war - A mixed-methods study

This mixed-methods study examined the psychological effects of war exposure on autistic and non-autistic children and their parents following the October 7th, 2023, terrorist attack and the ensuing Israel-Hamas War. Prior research shows that children exposed to war have elevated risk for post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), with autistic children being particularly vulnerable. In this study, 72 parents of children aged 3-17 (38 of autistic children, 34 of non-autistic children) completed standardized measures assessing child PTSS, parental PTSS, depression, anxiety, stress, and resilience. A subsample of 22 parents (12 of autistic children) also answered open-ended questions, which were analyzed qualitatively. Quantitative findings indicated that parents of autistic children reported significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and PTSS than parents of non-autistic children. Similarly, autistic children showed higher PTSS than non-autistic children. In the full sample, parental PTSS and anxiety significantly predicted child PTSS. When analyzed separately, parental PTSS was the strongest predictor among families of autistic children, while parental stress predicted child PTSS in families of non-autistic children. Qualitative analysis identified four themes in parents' and their children's experiences: Difficulties, Coping Resources, Routine, and Functioning. Parents of autistic children emphasized their children's behavioral regression, emotional distress, and reliance on routine and specialized support, while parents of non-autistic children described their own psychological challenges. These findings emphasize the unique vulnerabilities faced by autistic children and their parents in times of war and highlight the need for tailored mental health and community-based support that address the specific needs of those families.