Child and Family Contributions to Emotion Regulation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This literature review examines the role of child and family contributions to emotion regulation (ER) in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ER difficulties are prevalent in children with ASD, influencing their social interactions, behavioral adjustment, and overall developmental outcomes. Child-specific factors, including ASD symptom severity, emotion awareness, language abilities, and perceptual biases, were found to shape ER challenges. Family dynamics, such as co-regulation through scaffolding and parenting styles, play a crucial role in fostering ER development, although parental stress and the bidirectional nature of parent-child interactions often complicate these processes. While child-focused interventions, such as emotion awareness training and teaching cognitive reappraisal, have shown promise, parent-centered strategies addressing co-regulation and stress management are equally vital. This review highlights the need for holistic, tailored interventions targeting both child-specific and family-level factors to promote adaptive ER strategies and improve long-term outcomes for children with ASD and their families.