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IntroductionAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in communication, social interaction, and repetitive behavior. The declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 resulted in significant changes in daily life due to restrictive measures. This period posed particular challenges for families with children living with autism, given the limitations in medical care and social services.ObjectiveThis study aimed to understand how families with autistic children perceive stress during the pandemic and the coping strategies employed in unexpected situations.MethodA total of 44 families with children with ASD and 300 control families, including 44 control families in a matched subsample, were included in the study. To assess stress and parental coping with COVID-19-related stress, the Responses to Stress Questionnaire (Adult Self-Report RSQ–COVID-19) was utilized.ResultsCaregivers of autistic children experienced significantly higher stress levels (p = .027, d = 0.479) during the pandemic, with notable stressors such as limited access to medical care and challenges associated with remote work. Despite expectations, coping strategy differences were not statistically significant.ConclusionFamilies and supporters of children with autism naturally encounter various experiences and challenges stemming from their additional needs. Our study’s results highlight an accentuation of stress during challenging situations. As these situations may recur in the future, there is a need to design and implement support plans for these families, appropriate intervention programs, and preparations for the utilization of telemedicine tools.

引言自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）是一种神经发育障碍，其主要特征为沟通能力、社交互动以及重复性行为的损害。2020年3月宣布的COVID-19大流行导致由于限制性措施的实施，日常生活发生了显著变化。在这一时期，由于医疗保健和社会服务的局限性，对于抚养自闭症儿童的家庭而言，面临着特别的挑战。目标本项研究旨在探究自闭症儿童家庭在疫情期间对压力的认知以及应对突发状况采取的策略。方法本研究纳入了44个自闭症儿童家庭及300个对照家庭，其中匹配子样本包括44个对照家庭。为了评估疫情相关的压力及父母应对压力的情况，采用了压力应对问卷（成人自我报告RSQ-COVID-19）。结果自闭症儿童的父母在疫情期间经历了显著更高的压力水平（p = .027，d = 0.479），其中显著的压力源包括医疗保健的有限获取以及远程工作带来的挑战。尽管预期会有差异，但应对策略的差异在统计学上并不显著。结论自闭症儿童的家庭和支持者自然面临各种源自其额外需求的经验和挑战。本研究的结果突显了在逆境中压力的加剧。鉴于这些情况可能会在未来再次发生，有必要为这些家庭设计并实施支持计划，适宜的干预项目，以及为远程医疗工具的应用做好准备。