Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Jan:120:104130.
doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104130. Epub 2021 Nov 19.

Risk and protective factors of quality of life for children with autism spectrum disorder and their families during the COVID-19 lockdown. An Italian study

Maria Grazia Logrieco  1 , Laura Casula  2 , Giuseppe Niccolò Ciuffreda  3 , Roberta Lucia Novello  4 , Maria Spinelli  5 , Francesca Lionetti  6 , Ilaria Nicolì  7 , Mirco Fasolo  8 , Valeri Giovanni  9 , Vicari Stefano  10
Affiliations

Risk and protective factors of quality of life for children with autism spectrum disorder and their families during the COVID-19 lockdown. An Italian study

Maria Grazia Logrieco et al. Res Dev Disabil. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Background: The lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult period for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and their families.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of the quality of life (QoL) of children with ASD and their parents throughout the first lockdown, providing a snapshot of the impact of the pandemic on these families life.

Method and procedures: A cohort of 243 parents of children with ASD (2-15 years old) completed an original online survey regarding the modification of ASD cores symptoms during lockdown, the type of interventions they had done before and during lockdown and the activities performed by the child. Respondents filled the PedsQL for themselves and their children.

Outcome and results: The data obtained show a worsening of specific ASD core symptoms during lockdown and their role in predicting parents and children's QoL. Furthermore, protective factors for a better children's QoL as the Telehealth intervention, and some activities done at home during the lockdown as physical activity and play with parents are identified.

Conclusions: This study identifies the QoL's risk and protective factors for children with ASD and their families. Furthermore, reveals the fundamental role of the parents as children's QoL protective factor, suggesting a higher collaboration between families and health care providers, whilst potentially improving families and children's QoL.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; COVID-19; Children; Lockdown; Parents; Quality of life.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Multivariate mediation model. Note: (*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Agresti A. vol. 792. Wiley; New York: 2012. Categorical data analysis. (Wiley series in probability and Statistics).
    1. Ameis S.H., Lai M.C., Mulsant B.H., Szatmari P. Coping, fostering resilience, and driving care innovation for autistic people and their families during the COVID19pandemic and beyond. Molecular Autism. 2020;11(1):61. doi: 10.1186/s1322902000365-y. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. American Academy of Pediatrics Children, adolescents, and television. Pediatrics. 2001;107:423426. - PubMed
    1. American Psychiatric Association . 5th ed. American Psychiatric Publishing; Arlington, VA: 2013. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders.
    1. Amorim R., Catarino S., Miragaia P., Ferreras C., Viana V., Guardiano M. The impact of COVID-19 on children with autism spectrum disorder. Impacto de la COVID19en niños contrastorno del espectro autista. Revista de neurologia. 2020;71(8):285291. doi: 10.33588/rn.7108.2020381. - DOI - PubMed