Finnish parents’ perception of the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of autistic adolescents
Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic impacted autistic adolescents differently, but less is known about what aspects of their lives were the most affected. In this paper, we used a convenience sample (n = 323) of Finnish parents of autistic adolescents who reported the perceived impact of COVID-19 on the...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer Nature
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04388-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832585996604014592 |
|---|---|
| author | Kwok Ng Sanni Hiltunen Marleena Pekonen Eija Kärnä |
| author_facet | Kwok Ng Sanni Hiltunen Marleena Pekonen Eija Kärnä |
| author_sort | Kwok Ng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic impacted autistic adolescents differently, but less is known about what aspects of their lives were the most affected. In this paper, we used a convenience sample (n = 323) of Finnish parents of autistic adolescents who reported the perceived impact of COVID-19 on the lives of their autistic children. Data were analysed with content analyses and four themes emerged; studies, everyday life, interaction, and personal matters. The impact was considered to have been more negative (69%) than positive (31%). There were some mixed feelings towards the impact of COVID-19 and these were targeted particularly towards the way studies were carried out. Parents reported temporal negative impact of the pandemic such as, overall quality of schooling, changes to daily routines, lack of friendships, and reduced mental health. These areas should be monitored post-pandemic. In addition, parents reported their autistic adolescents were able to learn in an undistracted way, were supported by their family, had less exposure to stressful stimuli. The parents appreciated the opportunity to see their autistic child thrive. These were important learnings for designing personalised education for autistic adolescents, such as hybrid schooling and flexible supportive environments in a post-COVID-19 lockdown world. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-78d405a7d0784495bec8a6779c12c550 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-9992 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-78d405a7d0784495bec8a6779c12c5502025-01-26T12:20:20ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-01-011211810.1057/s41599-025-04388-9Finnish parents’ perception of the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of autistic adolescentsKwok Ng0Sanni Hiltunen1Marleena Pekonen2Eija Kärnä3Institute of Innovation and Sports Science, Lithuanian Sports UniversitySchool of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern FinlandSchool of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern FinlandSchool of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern FinlandAbstract The COVID-19 pandemic impacted autistic adolescents differently, but less is known about what aspects of their lives were the most affected. In this paper, we used a convenience sample (n = 323) of Finnish parents of autistic adolescents who reported the perceived impact of COVID-19 on the lives of their autistic children. Data were analysed with content analyses and four themes emerged; studies, everyday life, interaction, and personal matters. The impact was considered to have been more negative (69%) than positive (31%). There were some mixed feelings towards the impact of COVID-19 and these were targeted particularly towards the way studies were carried out. Parents reported temporal negative impact of the pandemic such as, overall quality of schooling, changes to daily routines, lack of friendships, and reduced mental health. These areas should be monitored post-pandemic. In addition, parents reported their autistic adolescents were able to learn in an undistracted way, were supported by their family, had less exposure to stressful stimuli. The parents appreciated the opportunity to see their autistic child thrive. These were important learnings for designing personalised education for autistic adolescents, such as hybrid schooling and flexible supportive environments in a post-COVID-19 lockdown world.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04388-9 |
| spellingShingle | Kwok Ng Sanni Hiltunen Marleena Pekonen Eija Kärnä Finnish parents’ perception of the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of autistic adolescents Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| title | Finnish parents’ perception of the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of autistic adolescents |
| title_full | Finnish parents’ perception of the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of autistic adolescents |
| title_fullStr | Finnish parents’ perception of the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of autistic adolescents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Finnish parents’ perception of the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of autistic adolescents |
| title_short | Finnish parents’ perception of the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of autistic adolescents |
| title_sort | finnish parents perception of the impact of covid 19 on the lives of autistic adolescents |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04388-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kwokng finnishparentsperceptionoftheimpactofcovid19onthelivesofautisticadolescents AT sannihiltunen finnishparentsperceptionoftheimpactofcovid19onthelivesofautisticadolescents AT marleenapekonen finnishparentsperceptionoftheimpactofcovid19onthelivesofautisticadolescents AT eijakarna finnishparentsperceptionoftheimpactofcovid19onthelivesofautisticadolescents |