Cultural Considerations in Caregiver-Implemented Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Globally, there is an increasing focus on interventions that are culturally relevant for children and families from diverse cultural, racial, and ethnic groups. We conducted a scoping review to evaluate what populations have been included in the caregiver research related to established naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We also evaluated the extent to which these interventions have developed or adapted to be culturally relevant for use with caregivers of children with ASD using the Cultural Adaptation Checklist. Seventy studies met the inclusion criteria. Our review noted a paucity of research with diverse populations, and lack of description related to cultural adaptations of these interventions. Descriptions related to cultural adaptations tended to focus the least on persons, goals, and methods. Clinicians and researchers are encouraged to engage in cultural adaptations of interventions in consultations with communities in order to enhance interventions for culturally diverse groups.