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Facing the COVID-19: A qualitative research on the impact of the pandemic on autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2021

T. Pretel Luque ,
A. Vilaregut Puigdesens ,
N. Farriols Hernando ,
M. Roca Santos  and
C. Andrés Gárriz
T. Pretel Luque*
Affiliation:
Facultat De Psicologia, Ciències De L’educació I L’esport Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
A. Vilaregut Puigdesens
Affiliation:
Facultat De Psicologia, Ciències De L’educació I L’esport Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
N. Farriols Hernando
Affiliation:
Facultat De Psicologia, Ciències De L’educació I L’esport Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
M. Roca Santos
Affiliation:
Facultat De Psicologia, Ciències De L’educació I L’esport Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
C. Andrés Gárriz
Affiliation:
Facultat De Psicologia, Ciències De L’educació I L’esport Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Lockdown resulting from the experienced pandemic has had a great influence on the emotional and social well-being of the general population. Specifically, it is known that those with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their caregivers had to overcome several challenges during this period. Moreover, this situation has influenced the professionals who work in this field.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to describe the impact, the learnings and the challenges that have arisen for the patients with ASD, their families and professionals during the coronavirus outbreak through progenitors’ and professionals’ perceptions.

Methods

A qualitative research design using focus groups was selected to identify and discuss participants’ experiences, beliefs, perceptions and attitudes. The target population consisted on parents with children with ASD and professionals who work with them. Data was collected via two focus groups. A content was made using the program Atlas.ti to determinate the principal categories and themes that describe the COVID-19 impact.

Results

Findings widely describe the problems faced and difficulties experienced by this population during lockdown and after it. As well as the challenges, opportunities and learning that this situation has offered.

Conclusions

Reflections derived from the study manifest the need of thinking about new models of intervention with children with ASD and their families. Greater attention must be paid to parents’ experiences in order to attend to the actual demands of patients and their caregivers contextualized within our current changing situation.

Keywords

autism spectrum disorderfamilyprofessionalsCOVID-19
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 64 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 29th European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2021 , pp. S289
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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