Conceptualisation of parenting in research on young children with or at elevated likelihood of autism: A systematic review of observational measures

Abstract

Declarations Funding M. Madarevic receives funding from the Marie Marguerite Delacroix foundation. M. Madarevic, P. Warreyn and I. Noens are part of the Tracking Infants At Risk for Autism (TIARA) study, that is funded by FWO (project number S001517N). AbstractResearch on emergent autism spectrum disorder increasingly uses observational measures to investigate parenting of young children with or at elevated likelihood of autism. This systematic review analysed 21 papers narratively, including 13 unique "coding approaches" and 63 parenting constructs. Through a comprehensive consensus decision-making process, parenting constructs were classified under nine overarching categories, identified based on prior categorisation: Warmth, Responsiveness, Scaffolding, Proactive Control, Intrusiveness, Negativity, Dyad, Other, Multiple. We found large heterogeneity in observational measures, and descriptions of parenting constructs lacked uniformity. The complex categorisation process demonstrates the need for a solid conceptual framework that can inform theory and practice.This review provides a first step, but further research should investigate applicability among young children of different ages.