Introduction
Self-care activities, such as eating, dressing, and bathing, are essential for daily living. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often struggle with self-care activities, impacting their independence and family well-being. It is essential to examine the factors influencing self-care performance in children with ASD.
Objectives
This review aimed to identify the related factors of self-care performance in children with ASD.
Methods
We searched literature from PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Reviews and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria were (1) published during 2014 to 2024, and (2) children and adolescence aged from 0 to 20 years. Keywords included autism spectrum disorders, pediatric, self-care, daily living skills, factors and predictors.
Results
A total of 17,943 studies were identified, with 10 meeting the inclusion criteria (7 cross-sectional, 3 longitudinal). According to the Person-Environment-Occupational Performance Model, factors were categorized into child-related and environmental. Child-related factors included age, gender, ASD severity, visual-motor integration, and motor skills. Consistent findings indicated that older children, and those with less severe ASD, stronger motor skills, and better visual-motor integration, demonstrated superior self-care performance. However, findings on gender influence were inconsistent. Environmental factors, such as birth order, household income, caregiver’s education level, and parenting styles, lacked conclusive evidence. However, excessive parental assistance was consistently related to reduced self-care independence.
Conclusion
This literature review highlights child-related and environmental factors influencing the self-care performance of children with ASD. Placing greater emphasis on underexplored environmental aspects may enhance interventions and support personalized strategies.