Factors associated with family functioning in autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review

Abstract

In occupational therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder, it is important to understand and support the family as a system. Therefore, investigating family function, which is a construct aimed at understanding the family as a system, has the potential to assist occupational therapists in obtaining information with which to support the family. In this study, a scoping review was used to organize factors related to family functioning in autism spectrum disorders, and materials were retrieved from six online databases. Twenty references met the criteria, and factors related to family functioning were identified, including children's problem behaviors and parents' health status. In addition, several interventions to improve family functioning were identified, but none of these were provided by occupational therapists.