Scoping Review: Caregiver Training to Reduce Challenging Behaviors Displayed by Children on the Autism Spectrum

Abstract

Effective intervention for children on the autism spectrum who engage in challenging behavior is critical. To ensure meaningful behavior change, caregiver training to support intervention implementation in the natural environment is often required. It is fortunate that both behavioral interventions and caregiver training are considered evidence-based for the reduction of challenging behavior. However, behavioral interventions may be comprised of an idiosyncratic combination of behavior-change strategies that require caregivers to accurately implement several strategies simultaneously or sequentially. The complexity of these interventions may affect parents’ ability to implement interventions accurately and consistently in the natural environment, which may in turn affect child outcomes. However, no review has synthesized the evidence from single-case design studies that evaluate the effects of caregiver training on a variety of caregiver-mediated interventions for autistic children who engage in challenging behavior. Given the complexity of caregiver training and caregiver-mediated interventions, and their increasing popularity, a greater understanding of the related evidence is warranted. We identified trends in participant demographics, caregiver training approaches implemented, child challenging behavior addressed, and behavioral intervention approaches employed. We propose recommendations for interpreting and applying results in practice, and avenues for future research directions.