Intervention adherence and its predictors among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Aims

To investigate the intervention adherence among parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and explore its predictors.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 209 parents of children with ASD were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou, China, from September 2022 to August 2023. Treatment Compliance Scale (TCS), Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC), and Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) were used for data collection. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explore the predictors of intervention adherence.

Results

The TCS score was 60.18 ± 12.81, and the item mean scores of professional treatment, family intervention and regular follow-up were 3.73 ± 1.02, 2.98 ± 0.80 and 3.65 ± 0.93, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that fathers' educational level (β = 0.272, P < 0.01), mothers' daily time with children (β = 0.257, P < 0.05), sensory domain in ABC (β = 0.146, P < 0.05), parenting self-efficacy (β = 0.229, P = 0.001) and parenting satisfaction (β = 0.152, P < 0.05) statistically significantly predicted TCS, accounting for 24.7 % of the variance [F (P) = 6.256, P < 0.001].

Conclusion

Intervention adherence among parents of children with ASD was at a moderate level. Parenting confidence (self-efficacy and satisfaction), fathers' education level, mothers' daily time with children, and children's sensory processing abnormalities significantly predicted adherence. These findings suggest that targeted interventions focusing on enhancing parental confidence and providing tailored support based on family characteristics may improve parents' intervention adherence.