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Effects of COVID-19 on Autism Spectrum Disorder in Qatar
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Effects of COVID-19 on Autism Spectrum Disorder in Qatar

Fouad A. Alshaban, Iman Ghazal, Sanaa T. Al-Harahsheh, Mustafa Lotfy, Hawraa Al-Shammari, Fatema Al-Faraj, I. Richard Thompson, Allison B. Ratto, Assal Nasir and Mohamed Tolefat
Frontiers in psychiatry, v 15, 1322011
20 Feb 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1322011
PMID: 38445086
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1322011View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology Psychiatry
Introduction The unprecedented impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has had profound implications on the ASD community, including disrupting daily life, increasing stress and emotional dysregulation in autistic children, and worsening individual and family well-being.Methods This study used quantitative and qualitative survey data from parents in Qatar (n=271), to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autistic children and their families in Qatar. The questionnaire was a combination of open-ended (qualitative) and closed-ended (quantitative) questions to explore patterns in the experiences of the different families, as well as to contrive themes. The survey was created in a way to evaluate the psychological, academic/intervention, economic, and other impacts of the pandemic related measures on a sample of multicultural families residing in the State of Qatar during the peak period of confinement and physical distancing in 2020. Data acquisition involved the utilization of Google Forms. Subsequent quantitative analysis employed the SPSS software and chi-square analysis for numerical examination, enabling the characterization of the studied population and exploration of associations between parental stress levels and variables such as employment status, therapy accessibility, presence of hired assistance, and alterations in their childs skills. Concurrently, qualitative data from written responses underwent thorough categorization, encompassing themes such as emotional isolation, mental or financial challenges, and difficulties in obtaining support.Results Parents expressed distress and disturbance in their daily lives, including profound disruptions to their childrens access to treatment, education, and activities. Most parents reported deteriorations in their childrens sleep (69.4%), behavioral regulation (52.8%), and acquired skills across multiple domains (54.2%). Parents also reported decreased access to family and social support networks, as well as decreased quality of clinical and community support. Qualitative analysis of parental responses revealed that child developmental regression was an important source of parental stress.Discussion and conclusion The greater impact of the pandemic on autistic children and their families emphasizes the need for accessible and affordable health, education, and family services to manage their special needs.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Psychiatry
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