Factors Impacting Treatment Decisions in Caregivers of Autistic Children

Leventhal’s Common Sense Model (CSM) is a theoretical framework developed to understand the self-regulatory processes involved in adapting to and managing health threats. This is the first known study to examine all components of the CSM (i.e., illness perceptions and coping behaviors) in its application to treatment seeking behaviors in caregivers of autistic children (N = 288). Results revealed a significant indirect pathway from caregivers’ perceptions of the unpredictable nature of ASD symptoms to intentions to seek treatment for their children through problem-focused coping (β = 0.07, p = 0.02, 95% CI [0.01, 0.13]). Additionally, caregivers’ perceptions about the controllability of their children’s ASD symptoms were positively related to treatment seeking behaviors (β = 0.19, p = 0.03, 95% CI [0.06, 0.34]). These findings suggest that providers assess and then use CBT-based strategies (e.g., cognitive restructuring) to potentially modify aspects of caregivers’ cognitions and coping behaviors during ASD feedback sessions to promote prompt treatment seeking for their autistic children.