Uncertainty, Sensory Processing, and Stress in Autistic Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Item request has been placed! ×
Item request cannot be made. ×
loading   Processing Request
Read More Add to Saved list
  • Author(s): Cardon G;Cardon G; Bradley M; Bradley M
  • Source:
    Research in autism spectrum disorders [Res Autism Spectr Disord] 2023 Aug; Vol. 106. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Jun 30.
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 101300021 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 1750-9467 (Print) NLM ISO Abbreviation: Res Autism Spectr Disord Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: Amsterdam : Elsevier
    • Abstract:
      Background: COVID-19 increased uncertainty for most and was especially disruptive to autistic people and their families, due in part to tendencies toward intolerance for uncertainty across this population. As such, COVID presented a natural experiment of uncertainty and its correlates in autism. Previous reports have shown associations between intolerance of uncertainty, sensory difficulty, and stress.
      Aims: We investigated changes in sensory difficulties and stress associated with COVID-related increases in uncertainty.
      Methods and Procedures: Primary caregivers of 47 autistic children (ages 6-15) completed online surveys containing questions about demographics, experiences, and supports received during the pandemic. Additionally, caregivers filled out measures of intolerance of uncertainty and sensory processing for both pre- and during-COVID conditions.
      Outcomes and Results: Eighty nine percent of children had significant sensory difficulties before the pandemic. This group showed significant increases in sensory difficulties and intolerance of uncertainty during the pandemic. These changes were significantly correlated with each other, suggesting that as uncertainty increased so did sensory difficulties. Disruption to routine was also significantly correlated with sensory differences and child, household, and parent stress.
      Conclusions and Implications: Our findings add to fundamental understanding of the relationship between uncertainty, sensory processing, and stress by leveraging a natural experiment in increased uncertainty. These results have the potential to contribute to improved supports for autistic individuals in clinical, educational, home, and other settings.
      Competing Interests: Declaration of interest statement: The authors whose names are listed above certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest, or non-financial interest, in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
    • References:
      J Autism Dev Disord. 2021 Aug;51(8):2920-2928. (PMID: 33090358)
      J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 May;49(5):2069-2079. (PMID: 30673910)
      Cogn Behav Ther. 2014;43(2):133-44. (PMID: 24601766)
      Am J Occup Ther. 2007 Mar-Apr;61(2):190-200. (PMID: 17436841)
      Clin Soc Work J. 2018;46(3):210-219. (PMID: 30100640)
      Mol Autism. 2020 Jul 22;11(1):61. (PMID: 32698850)
      Heliyon. 2022 Jun 12;8(6):e09727. (PMID: 35720765)
      J Autism Dev Disord. 2014 Jun;44(6):1391-402. (PMID: 24272526)
      Front Psychol. 2013 Jan 28;4:19. (PMID: 23372559)
      Psychol Rev. 2014 Oct;121(4):649-75. (PMID: 25347312)
      Autism. 2020 Feb;24(2):411-422. (PMID: 31416327)
      Front Hum Neurosci. 2017 Jan 24;11:20. (PMID: 28174531)
      Trends Cogn Sci. 2012 Oct;16(10):504-10. (PMID: 22959875)
      J Anxiety Disord. 2010 Mar;24(2):189-95. (PMID: 19931391)
      Mol Autism. 2021 Mar 3;12(1):21. (PMID: 33658046)
      J Anxiety Disord. 2009 Jan;23(1):130-5. (PMID: 18565725)
      Autism Res. 2010 Oct;3(5):253-67. (PMID: 20730775)
      Sci Rep. 2021 Nov 22;11(1):22655. (PMID: 34811386)
      Front Psychiatry. 2020 Jan 28;10:1016. (PMID: 32047448)
      Int J Ment Health Addict. 2021;19(6):2369-2382. (PMID: 32837421)
      Autism. 2021 Nov;25(8):2305-2316. (PMID: 34030518)
      J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Apr;45(4):943-52. (PMID: 25261248)
      Front Psychiatry. 2020 Aug 19;11:842. (PMID: 32973584)
      J Paediatr Child Health. 2021 May;57(5):631-636. (PMID: 33426739)
      N Engl J Med. 2020 Mar 5;382(10):929-936. (PMID: 32004427)
      Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2011 Sep;14(3):302-17. (PMID: 21735077)
      World J Virol. 2022 Nov 25;11(6):411-425. (PMID: 36483100)
      J Anxiety Disord. 2006;20(2):158-74. (PMID: 16464702)
      J Anxiety Disord. 2007;21(1):105-17. (PMID: 16647833)
      J Anxiety Disord. 2003;17(2):233-42. (PMID: 12614665)
      J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2017 Mar;30(2):336-344. (PMID: 26868412)
      Brain Sci. 2020 Jun 03;10(6):. (PMID: 32503172)
      J Autism Dev Disord. 2012 Nov;42(11):2404-9. (PMID: 22527704)
      Public Health Pract (Oxf). 2020 Nov;1:100034. (PMID: 34173571)
      Pediatr Res. 2011 May;69(5 Pt 2):48R-54R. (PMID: 21289533)
      J Autism Dev Disord. 2016 Jun;46(6):1962-1973. (PMID: 26864157)
      Front Integr Neurosci. 2020 May 05;14:22. (PMID: 32431600)
      Prog Neurobiol. 2015 Nov;134:140-60. (PMID: 26455789)
      J Trop Pediatr. 2021 Jan 29;67(1):. (PMID: 33367907)
      Autism. 2023 Apr;27(3):832-847. (PMID: 36263743)
      Expert Rev Neurother. 2012 Aug;12(8):937-47. (PMID: 23002938)
    • Grant Information:
      K01 DC016339 United States DC NIDCD NIH HHS
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: COVID-19; autism; intolerance of uncertainty; routine disturbance; sensory processing; stress
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20230724 Latest Revision: 20240802
    • Publication Date:
      20240802
    • Accession Number:
      PMC10361392
    • Accession Number:
      10.1016/j.rasd.2023.102202
    • Accession Number:
      37484881