COVID-19 and behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder: Disparities by income and food security status.
Res Dev Disabil
; 115: 104002, 2021 Aug.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1253564
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is lacking.AIMS:
This study investigates the relationship between COVID-19 and behaviors of children with ASD living in the United States. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Parents and caregivers (nâ¯=â¯200) across the United States, as proxies for children 2-17 years of age with ASD, participated in an online survey querying changes in overall behavior and 15 specific behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of a moderate-to-large impact on the child's overall behavior with household income level and food security status. OUTCOMES ANDRESULTS:
A majority of respondents reported a moderate-to-large impact on the child's overall behavior (74 %) due to COVID-19. Several specific behaviors were also affected. Stratifying by income level and food security status revealed disparities in the impact on overall behavior and most specific behaviors. Compared to a household income ≥$100â¯K, an income <$50â¯K was associated with an increased risk of moderate-to-large impact on the child's overall behavior (odds ratio (OR) 4.07, 95 % CI 1.60, 10.38). Food insecurity also significantly impacted this risk, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors (OR 3.31, 95 % CI 1.13, 9.66). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our findings show a large proportion of caregivers reporting moderate-to-large changes post-COVID-19 in the behaviors of U.S. children with ASD, particularly in families with low income and/or food insecurity. This study highlights the effects of existing disparities on children with ASD and their families during this unprecedented time.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Autism Spectrum Disorder
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Child
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
Res Dev Disabil
Journal subject:
Mental Disorders
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.ridd.2021.104002
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