A recent study has highlighted the severe psychological impact of war on autistic children and their parents following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas. Within a month of the attack, both autistic and non-autistic children exhibited significant post-traumatic stress symptoms. However, autistic children showed a more intense response, and their parents reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, emphasizing the urgent need for specialized mental health services for these families.
Dr. Judah Koller from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, along with his team led by doctoral student Shir Rozenblat, conducted this pioneering study on the impact of war on autistic children and their families. Their findings underscore the necessity for tailored support services during conflicts.
The study revealed that autistic children’s reliance on routine and predictability exacerbates their stress during war, leading to more pronounced post-traumatic stress symptoms. Parents of autistic children also experienced depression, anxiety, and stress levels two to four times higher than those of parents with non-autistic children, based on prior research from the Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research at Ben Gurion University.
Dr. Koller stated, “Parenting a child during wartime is a universal challenge, but our findings indicate that autistic children and their parents face unique challenges. These children and families need targeted mental health support that takes into account their unique characteristics.”
The researchers used caregiver-report online questionnaires to quickly gather data from a broad population, acknowledging some limitations due to sample size and characteristics. They stress the importance of these preliminary findings as a first step in a year-long study.
The research team, in collaboration with Dr. Yonat Rum from the School of Education, has also collected data for a larger mixed-methods, cross-sectional study involving both autistic and non-autistic children and their parents. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ongoing effects of war and to advocate for necessary support services.
The study calls for policymakers and health care providers to prioritize the specific needs of autistic children and their families, not only in Israel but in other conflict-affected regions. This project is a collaboration with ALUT, the Israeli Society for Autistic Children and Adults, Bar-Ilan University, and Ben-Gurion University.