Digital health interventions targeting psychological health in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review.

This review looked at 53 studies about digital tools (like video calls, apps, and online programs) that help parents of autistic children with stress and mental health. These digital supports focus on teaching parenting skills, managing challenging behaviors, and emotional well-being. Most studies showed positive results, with improvements lasting over time. Digital supports appear to be helpful, affordable, and easy to access for parents who need psychological support.

This scoping review examined 53 studies (2013-2024) investigating digital health interventions (DHIs) for supporting psychological health in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. The review identified various intervention types including videoconferencing, e-learning, mobile health apps, and asynchronous telehealth platforms. Interventions primarily focused on parental skill training, managing children's behaviors, and emotional regulation. Outcomes measured included stress, anxiety, depression, and overall well-being.

Results showed significant improvements in 75% of non-controlled studies and 62.1% of controlled studies. All 12 studies examining long-term effects demonstrated sustained benefits. The review concludes that DHIs offer accessible, cost-effective support for parents, though mechanisms of effectiveness require further investigation.

Digital health interventions represent a promising, accessible approach for supporting parental psychological health. Results support implementation of various digital platforms including videoconferencing, e-learning, and mobile apps. However, further research is needed to understand mechanisms of effectiveness and optimize intervention design for sustained benefits.

As a scoping review, this study mapped available evidence rather than conducting quality assessment or meta-analysis. The review notes that mechanisms behind DHI effectiveness remain unclear, and there was heterogeneity in intervention types and outcome measures across included studies.

Research consistently shows that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at a greater risk of psychological difficulties. While various interventions exist to enhance the psychological health of these parents, the potential of digital health interventions (DHIs) in this context remains underexplored. This scoping review aims to examine the availability and effectiveness of DHIs designed to support the psychological health of parents of children with ASD. A scoping review approach was used to map the available evidence.

An expert medical librarian (JB) searched six major databases-(1) CINAHL, (2) Ovid EMBASE, (3) Ovid Global Health, (4) Ovid MEDLINE, (5) Ovid PsycINFO, and (6) Web of Science-to identify studies on ASD, digital health technologies, and intervention outcomes concerning the psychological health of parents of children with ASD. Searches were conducted in June 2024. Three independent reviewers (BJ, IMSB, and XP) conducted study selection and data extraction. The methods and reporting adhered to the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines.

A total of 53 studies published between 2013 and 2024 were identified, examining the effectiveness of DHIs on the psychological health of parents of children with ASD under 18 years of age. Most studies (54.7%) originated from the United States, followed by China (13.2%). In terms of intervention content, the studies primarily focus on parental skill training and support (n = 27), managing children's problem behavior and health (n = 15), and parental psychological health and emotional regulation (n = 11). Regarding intervention methods, the studies were categorized into videoconferencing telehealth, e-learning telehealth, mHealth, and asynchronous telehealth, with Zoom being the most frequently used platform (n = 16).

Psychological health outcomes assessed in the included studies were grouped into three dimensions: negative psychological aspects, positive psychological aspects, and overall well-being, with stress being the most frequently assessed variable (n = 37). Significant improvements were reported in 75% of non-controlled studies and 62.1% of controlled studies, supporting the effectiveness of DHIs. All 12 studies assessing long-term effects of DHIs confirmed sustained psychological benefits. This review demonstrates that DHIs are a promising approach for improving the psychological health of parents of children with ASD.

While the mechanisms behind their effectiveness remain unclear, DHIs offer accessible, cost-effective, and impactful support. Further research is needed to focus on parents' psychological health and emotional regulation, explore advanced technologies, incorporate positive psychological strategies, and assess both short- and long-term outcomes in order to maximize the potential of DHIs in ASD-related care.