Parental treatment adherence in children with ASD: factors and research methods (based on foreign studies)

Context and relevance. Parental adherence to treatment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of therapeutic and educational interventions. However, this phenomenon remains understudied, necessitating a systematic analysis of existing research. Objective. The aim was to identify factors influencing parental adherence, analyze methodological approaches, and determine promising directions for future research based on international studies. Hypothesis. It was hypothesized that adherence is determined by a complex of individual, family, and socio-cultural factors, and its study requires a multi-method approach. Methods and materials. A systematic analysis of a representative sample of international publications was conducted. The following methods were used: (1) identification of key terms, (2) categorization of adherence factors, (3) analysis of theoretical models, (4) assessment of method validity, and (5) identification of trends. Results. It was found that the key factors are: severity of ASD symptoms, parental stress, treatment beliefs, therapy accessibility, social support, and stigma. Ecological and cognitive models, as well as social learning theories, dominate the field. Quantitative methods prevail, but there is growing interest in qualitative and mixed-method approaches. Conclusions. The results emphasize the need for comprehensive family support that considers individual and contextual factors. Promising directions include: personalized interventions, consideration of cultural characteristics, parent involvement in research, and digital technologies.

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