Introduction/Rationale: Attitudes about specific restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBIs) in autistic children are not consistent but are frequently negative, and the behaviors are often considered as targets for elimination.
Objectives: This review examined attitudes about RRBIs among autistic children, their parents/caregivers, clinicians, and teachers concerning children’s occupational participation, emotional regulation, and influence on family, teacher, and practitioner dynamics.
Methods/Approach: Three databases (Ovid-PsychINFO, Ovid-MEDLINE, and CINAHL) were searched and produced 1,558 articles. Authors screened 1,111 articles and retrieved 129 for full-text review. Fifteen articles met inclusion criteria, and two more were added, resulting in 17 articles reviewed. The review was registered with Prospero (CRD42024575580). Included studies were published in the past 10 years, focused on children ages approximately 3-18 with a confirmed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, and explored repetitive behaviors as an outcome measure.
Results/Practice Implications: Data from 3,258 stakeholders presented mixed findings on attitudes about RRBIs. Results are categorized according to the perceived impact on a child’s occupational performance, impact on a child’s emotional regulation, and impact on a child’s family, teachers and clinicians.
Conclusion/Contribution to the occupational therapy profession: Findings suggest that not all RRBIs are considered problematic and should not be targeted for intervention. When taking this approach, it appears that not all RRBIs require intervention, and some may be advantageous for autistic children. This review adds clarity to the perceived impacts of RRBIs on autistic children’s occupational participation, emotional regulation, and influence on family, teacher, and clinician dynamics.