Investigating the health and wellness of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families
Creators: name: Ibitamuno, Grace Tamunoibuomi
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2024

description: The prevalence rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among children in the US have tripled since 2000. Interventions to support these children and their families often aim to reduce symptoms that interfere with their daily living. Understanding how children with ASD and their families fare in terms of their health and wellness compared to children without ASD may identify where policy initiatives may be needed to improve these outcomes and create a more equitable healthcare system. Additionally, identifying confounding factors in the relationships between ASD and health and wellness outcomes may identify potential targets for policy interventions to improve these outcomes in children with ASD. Finally, identifying characteristics of children with ASD and their families that predict poorer outcomes in these children may identify subgroups of children with ASD that are disproportionately impacted. Chapter 1 outlines the prevalence, presentation, and diagnosis of ASD. Chapter 2 describes the variables employed in this dissertation and describes a bivariate analysis comparing children with ASD and children without ASD. Children with ASD appear to be at a disadvantage related to having a medical home, the highest level of education attained by their caregivers, the physical health status of their mothers and fathers, the amount of time their caregivers dedicate to providing and coordinating their health care, the family income level, the resilience of their families, and whether they live in a supportive neighborhood compared to children without ASD. Chapter 3 shows that, compared to children without ASD, children with ASD are 6.1 percentage points less likely to have caregiver-reported excellent/very good/good health, 41.5 percentage points less likely to be reported as flourishing by their caregivers, 8.6 percentage points more likely to be experiencing caregiver-reported chronic pain, and 4.8 percentage points less likely to be reported as safe in their neighborhoods by their caregivers. Chapter 4 shows that when compared to children without ASD, children with ASD were 7.5 percentage points more likely to have any caregiver-reported emergency department visits, 10.7 percentage points more likely to have out-of-pocket medical costs of $500 or more, and 12.1 percentage points more likely to have caregiver-reported medical hardship. Chapter 5 shows that when compared to children without ASD, children with ASD are 5.8 percentage points less likely to live with a caregiver who is employed full-time, and 9.0 percentage points less likely to live in a middle- or high-income household. Overall, the health and wellness outcomes of girls with ASD, children of color with ASD, and children with severe ASD appear to be most significantly impacted. The findings of this study also support the family-based approach to interventions for children with ASD, as factors like the positive physical health status of caregivers and family resilience appear to reduce the effects of ASD found in some of the examined outcomes.