Parent perspectives of what helps and hinders their child on the autism spectrum to manage their anxiety. (14th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Clark, Megan; Adams, Dawn
• Is Part Of: Clinical psychologist. Volume 24:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 315
• Page End: 328
• Publication Date: 2020-05-14
• Subjects: anxiety -- barriers -- cross‐contextual -- enablers; Clinical psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1111/cp.12223
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1328-4207

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Although anxiety is recognised as one of the most common co‐occurring conditions to affect school‐aged children with an autism spectrum disorder, little research has explored the strategies that children on the autism spectrum use to manage their own anxiety. Methods: Seventy‐two parents of children on the spectrum aged 5 to 17 years identified things that supported their child to manage their anxiety (enablers) and things that hindered their child's management of anxiety (barriers) across the home, school, and community. Using content analysis, parents' open‐ended responses were coded into a series of subcategories for each setting. Results: At home, "routine, modifications, and adaptations" was the most frequently reported enabler while "social, communication, and personal challenges" was the most frequently reported barrier to managing anxiety. "Supports and strategies (at school/in the community)" was the most commonly identified enabler that supported children to manage their anxiety in both the school and community environments. "Overstimulation, unpredictability, and demands (at school/in the community)" was the most commonly identified barrier hindering children's management of anxiety in both the school and community settings. Conclusions: Given the wide range of barriers and enablers identified, working with children and families to identify the barriers and enablers for each child in managing their anxiety may be a useful process during therapy. Targeting interventions to align with the identified barriers and enablers may assist children on the autism spectrum to develop strategies for the management of their own anxiety across settings.