1. Benedicto Rodríguez G, Zorrilla-Muñoz V, Juan CG, Ferrandez JM. Gender and diagnostic differences in children’s preferences for social robot design. A mixed-methods study with autistic and neurotypical children. Front Robot AI. 2026; 13: 1812453.

INTRODUCTION: Autistic children are increasingly engaging with social robots in educational and support contexts, but limited research has compared the perceptual and design preferences of autistic and neurotypical children. METHODS: This mixed-methods study examined the robot design preferences of 43 children aged 3-15 years, including 21 autistic and 22 neurotypical children, and included semi-structured interviews with 11 adult stakeholders, comprising six experts and five non-experts. Quantitative analyses explored relationships between robot preference and perceptual features, including size, color, movement, voice, and anthropomorphism, while qualitative thematic and co-occurrence analyses examined perceived benefits, ethical issues, accessibility challenges, and ideal design characteristics. RESULTS: Perceptual characteristics, particularly movement intensity and color multiplicity, influenced robot preference. Across groups, children generally preferred humanoid robots with soft voices and eye movement. Gender-related differences appeared more consistent than diagnostic differences in preferences for size and movement speed. Autistic children highlighted playful and social interaction functions and showed greater variability in preferred personality-related traits. Qualitative findings indicated strong interest in robot-supported interactions, while also raising concerns about accessibility and possible emotional dependency. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that inclusive social robot design should prioritize modificable sensory features, moderated anthropomorphism, predictable interaction patterns, and personalization mechanisms that account for individual, gender-related, and diagnostic differences.

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2. Gangi DN, Parikh C, Hill MM, Maqbool S, Ni R, Dvorak S, Young GS, Ozonoff S. Autism Screening in the First Year and Beyond: Comparison of Multiple Measures. Autism Res. 2026: e70340.

Autism screening aids in early detection and diagnosis. Several screeners are available for toddlers 16 months and older, but there is little data on the accuracy of screening measures used in the first year of life. A community sample (N = 1641) completed three screeners-M-CHAT-R, ITC, VIRSA-online at 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months of age (including exploratory use of M-CHAT-R prior to 16 months). At 36 months, outcomes of ASD or Non-ASD were determined by tele-evaluation and outcome surveys. Psychometric properties were assessed for all screeners at all ages, both used individually and in combination. When used in the first year of life (6-12 months), psychometric properties were in the poor range, with area under the curve (AUC) < 0.70 for all three screeners, whether used in isolation or combination. At 18 and 24 months, the M-CHAT-R and ITC outperformed the VIRSA, with psychometric properties in the fair range (AUC 0.70-0.79) used in isolation and the good range (AUC ≥ 0.80) when used in combination. Using the M-CHAT-R and ITC at more than one age in the second year also fell in the good range. This study, using procedures to address limitations of prior screening studies and follow screen-negative cases, found that none of the three screeners had adequate psychometric properties in the first year. At 18 and 24 months, findings supported the use of multiple screeners, either in combination or longitudinally, for best prediction of autism diagnosis. Autism screening helps to diagnose autism early in development. We found that the three screeners tested did not work well in the first year of life. At 18 and 24 months, using multiple screeners and screening at multiple ages worked best in predicting autism diagnosis. eng.

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3. Glaser BD, Bazezew MM, Bragantini D, Hegemann LE, Orm S, Morgan MJ, Bishop SL, Valand SB, Hannigan LJ, Havdahl A. Age at Autism Diagnosis in the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa): Exploring the Association With Family Well-Being. Autism. 2026: 13623613261474929.

For many autistic individuals, close family members represent a crucial source of support throughout their lifetime. Early autism diagnosis is thought to benefit both autistic individuals and their family members by facilitating early access to services and information. However, little research has empirically studied the relationship between age at diagnosis and well-being among autistic individuals and their family members. In this study, we examined predictors of age at autism diagnosis and its relationship with family well-being using the population-based Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). We found that the most important factors associated with a later age at diagnosis were fewer social communication difficulties at age three, fewer maternal concerns about development in early childhood, absence of a co-occurring intellectual disability diagnosis, female sex, and having older siblings. While a later age at diagnosis was associated with higher well-being for mothers and children during childhood, it was associated with lower well-being for children during adolescence. All associations were substantially attenuated after adjustment for various clinical, demographic, and genetic factors – reflecting complex patterns of confounding. We argue that future research should aim to leverage public awareness campaigns, screening programmes, or changes in clinical practice to understand the causal mechanisms underlying these relationships.Lay abstractFamily members of autistic people are often an important source of support for their well-being. An earlier autism diagnosis might be helpful for autistic individuals and their families, because families might receive professional support sooner. However, the impact of an earlier diagnosis is difficult to study, because many child and family characteristics that lead to an earlier autism diagnosis may have their own influence on well-being in autistic individuals and their families. In this study, we look at how age at diagnosis and family well-being are related and how they both relate to different child and family characteristics. We find that children, on average, receive a later autism diagnosis when they have fewer social communication difficulties and fewer maternal concerns in early childhood, do not also have an intellectual disability diagnosis, are a girl, or have older siblings. We also found that a later autism diagnosis was associated with higher well-being for children and mothers in childhood but with lower well-being for children in adolescence. When we compared families with similar child and family characteristics, we no longer saw such clear links between age at diagnosis and well-being. This might be because of the complex mixture of influences child and family characteristics have on both age at diagnosis and well-being and suggests that other types of study may be better for investigating the impact of age at diagnosis on well-being in families.

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4. Grillo VD, Tanini G, Rana FC, Venuti P. Redefining autism in adulthood interventions in and through social virtual environments: an exploratory cross-cultural study. Front Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2026; 5: 1770399.

BACKGROUND: Autism intervention research has largely prioritized children and adolescents, with limited guidance for adults. Social virtual environments (SVEs; e.g., VRChat) are widely used by autistic adults for connection, yet their role as intervention settings remains under-examined. This study explores clinicians’ perspectives on feasibility, risks, and essential design requirements for clinician-informed SVE-based socio-relational interventions for autistic young adults with low support needs. METHODS: We conducted nine semi-structured focus groups with Italian clinicians (N = 26) across three regions (Veneto, Trentino, Lazio) and five semi-structured international interviews (U.S. n = 4; Australia n = 1). Transcripts were analyzed via inductive, codebook-informed thematic analysis grounded in reflexive qualitative principles. Because the study involved four coders working across two linguistically distinct datasets, a shared coding framework was used as a pragmatic coordination tool to support transparency, interpretive consistency, and auditability across the research team (the intent was not to establish positivist inter-rater reliability or eliminate researcher subjectivity). Datasets were first coded separately and then integrated through matrix-based synthesis to identify contextually situated points of convergence and divergence. RESULTS: Italian clinicians emphasized neurodiversity-affirming aims, context-dependent social difficulty (including anxiety/overwhelm), structured scaffolding and mediation, ecological generalization, and SVEs as conditional tools requiring boundaries. International clinicians foregrounded autonomy and choice, emotional safety in relation to masking, neurotype composition as an ingredient for belonging, identity-affirming collaboration, and regulation/repair practices. Across datasets, clinicians emphasized safety-contingent participation, non-negotiable personalization/controllability of demands (i.e., sensory, social), and the protective value of supported pauses and exits. Contextual differences centered on the dominant logic of support (competence-building scaffolding vs. liberation/identity integration), mediator-led structure vs. neurotype-aligned spaces, intersectionality as primary vs. contextual framing, and distinct risk emphases (avoidance/overuse vs. relational ambiguity and rejection). CONCLUSION: Clinicians conceptualize SVEs not as inherently therapeutic technologies but as conditional social infrastructures whose potential value depends on how safety, autonomy, and identity are supported. Clinician-informed SVE-based interventions for autistic adults may therefore require integrating structured mediation with explicit autonomy- and identity-affirming safeguards, offering a pathway beyond the traditional’ skills vs. acceptance’ divide in autism intervention research.

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5. Huang PW, Liang SC, Sun CK, Cheng YS, Chen CM, Hung KC. Therapeutic effects of tDCS on cognitive functions in patients diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis on randomized sham-controlled trials. Braz J Psychiatry. 2026.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aimed at investigating the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in improving cognitive functions in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and evaluating the effects of potential confounders on therapeutic outcomes. METHODS: Randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) identified from major databases were reviewed. Continuous data were expressed as effect size based on standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Meta-analysis of thirteen RCTs involving 347 participants diagnosed with ASD (mean age=15.76) revealed significant improvements in social cognition among those receiving tDCS treatment compared to sham controls (SMD=1.14, 95% CI=0.70-1.58, p<0.01, seven studies, n=172). Subgroup analysis showed no significant impact regarding location of anode placement, combination with cognitive/behavioral training, and number of sessions. Our secondary analyses demonstrated significantly greater improvements in processing speed of patients receiving tDCS than their sham controls (SMD=0.50, 95% CI=0.22-0.77, p<0.01, five studies, n=208) but not in attentional function, inhibitory control, and working memory. CONCLUSION: Our study supported the use of tDCS for improving social cognition and processing speed in individuals with ASD. Nevertheless, the impact of potential confounders on therapeutic outcomes, including treatment duration and target brain region, warrants elucidation by further large-scale investigations.

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6. Kayış H, Gedizlioğlu Ç. Subgroup validity, parameter justification, and measurement precision in POV-glasses-based autism screening: Authors’ reply. Asian J Psychiatr. 2026; 124: 105136.

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7. Loftus T, Yau SH, Soares S, Byrne J, Mathersul DC. Co-designed yoga nidra targeting anxiety in autistic children: A mixed methods feasibility study. Res Dev Disabil. 2026; 176: 105367.

Autistic children experience disproportionately high rates of anxiety, yet common interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy and traditional mindfulness practices may be less effective due to their cognitive and abstract demands. Yoga nidra, a form of guided meditation using concrete visualisations and breath awareness, may offer a more accessible alternative. This mixed methods study evaluated the feasibility and pilot efficacy of a co-designed six-week online yoga nidra intervention targeting anxiety in autistic children aged 8-14 years. Neurophysiological and psychological data were collected from 13 participants using parent- and self-reported measures of anxiety (ASC-ASD), intolerance of uncertainty (IUSC), and emotion dysregulation (EDI), alongside heart rate variability (HRV). Notably, the cohort included a minimally speaking child, which demonstrates the potential for the intervention to extend to autistic children with language support needs, a group who are often underrepresented in similar research. Results indicated no statistically significant changes in anxiety over time; however, medium effect sizes were observed in self- (Hedge’s g = 0.55) and parent-reported anxiety (Hedge’s g = 0.45), with three participants moving from clinically significant to non-significant anxiety levels post-intervention. Additionally, intolerance of uncertainty and emotion dysregulation demonstrated small to medium effect size reductions (IUSC, Hedge’s g = 0.50; EDI-Reactivity, Hedge’s g = 0.55; EDI-Dysphoria, Hedge’s g = 0.25), suggesting potential benefits of yoga nidra in these areas. Greater attendance was significantly associated with self-reported reductions in anxiety (ASC-ASD-SR, r = .757, p < .05), but not the other outcome measures. Unexpectedly, HRV outcomes indicated reduced autonomic functioning post-intervention. Additionally, qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with three child participants and their mothers from the study were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, revealing five key themes of their experience: Thinking About the Body is Hard; We Want More; Homework Sucks; Making Mindfulness Concrete; and On-Screen and At Home is Convenient. While the online format was appreciated for its accessibility, challenges with adherence and scheduling highlighted the need for more flexible delivery models. This study advances upon prior research by being the first to develop a co-designed yoga nidra intervention specifically for autistic children. Findings support the feasibility of yoga nidra as a complementary intervention for autistic children and suggest directions for future research, including larger trials and further co-design with the autistic community.

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8. Nicolaidis C, Moura I, Baker-Ericzén M, Scharer M, Maslak J, Kripke-Ludwig R, Horner-Johnson W, Love J, Raymaker DM, Joyce A, des Roches Rosa S, Herbert GA, Taylor JL, Yang LQ, McDonald K, Siddeek Z, Kapp SK, Frowner E, Smith I, Wallington AF, Flores KJ, Kaufman N, Kripke C, Vera J, Grillo VD, Gardiner F. Addressing Common Problems in Autism Research: Cohort Development and Sample Description for a Participatory, Real-World, Longitudinal Study of Outcomes in Autistic Adults. Autism. 2026: 13623613261476381.

Adult autism services research is plagued by methodological challenges, including difficulty obtaining representative or heterogeneous samples and a frequent mismatch between experimental methodologies and real-world settings. The Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE) Outcomes Project used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to (a) create the AASPIRE Measurement Toolkit – a set of self- and caregiver-reported accessible outcome measures to evaluate health and social services and (b) explore factors predicting changes in outcomes. We previously used a CBPR-nested Delphi process to identify high-priority outcomes and adapted or created instruments to measure them. We conducted a longitudinal survey to validate these measures in a pragmatic sample of autistic adults with subcohorts from two health care systems, two disability service systems, and the larger autistic community in the United States. This article (a) describes our study methods and the sample’s baseline characteristics and (b) compares characteristics among participants in the separate subcohorts and sites. We collected baseline data from 870 participants. Follow-up response rates were >80% for the second and third time points. The sample includes strong heterogeneity. As expected, sample characteristics differed markedly between the three subcohorts. Lessons from our experience may help other researchers devise strategies to effectively recruit heterogeneous samples of autistic adults across various settings.Lay AbstractThere are many challenges that can get in the way of doing good research on autism in adulthood. Examples of these types of challenges include the following: (a) it can be hard to include autistic people with a wide range of characteristics in research studies and (b) traditional research may come up with results that do not really apply to people in the real world. Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE) is a group of academics and autistic community members who work together as equal partners. We are creating the AASPIRE Measurement Toolkit, an accessible set of survey measures about the health and life outcomes most important to autistic adults. In an earlier part of the project, we worked together to create the measures in the Toolkit. Now we are doing a big survey study to test the new measures and look at what predicts changes in outcomes over time. This article describes our study methods and the characteristics of the people in the sample. It also compares basic information about people recruited to the study from different places, using different methods. We recruited 870 autistic adults from two health care centers (the health care subgroup); two disability services systems (the disability subgroup); and the broader autistic community. We collected data from each person three times over 12 to 18 months. Over 80% of study participants did the follow-up surveys. People in the study had a wide range of personal and disability-related characteristics. As we predicted, the three subgroups were really different from each other. Even the two sites within the subgroups were a bit different. This serves as a warning to researchers: results that come from people recruited from one setting may not apply to people in other settings. It also shows how using multiple different strategies at the same time can increase the diversity in study samples.

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9. Shao Z, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Guo L, Luo Y, Meng Z, Kuang G, Hong Q, Tian X, Wang Z, Zhao Q, Tan J. Development and validation of an early screening tool for young children with autism spectrum disorders: the checklist for Chinese toddlers with autism. Front Psychiatry. 2026; 17: 1810421.

This study aimed to develop and validate the Checklist for Chinese Toddlers with Autism, a culturally adapted early screening tool for autism spectrum disorder in children aged 12-24 months. The scale was developed by synthesizing early ASD symptom characteristics, reviewing international screening instruments, incorporating interviews with 15 medical professionals, and consulting eight experts in developmental behavioral pediatrics, child psychology, and psychometrics. The final scale comprises three dimensions (reciprocal social behaviors, social communication, interest behaviors and sensory perception) and 20 items assessed via behavioral observation. Initial validation involved 809 children (aged 12-24 months) to evaluate reliability and validity of the scale, and then determine a cutoff point to differentiate the severity levels of ASD. Further, the scale was applied in 4786 children from the neighborhood child health care clinics to test the screening value of the checklist. The results indicated that a cutoff score of 12 yielded optimal performance, with high sensitivity (0.95) and specificity (0.82). Community-based screening confirmed its efficacy in distinguishing between high likelihood and low likelihood children for ASD. Preliminary evidence indicates that the Checklist for Chinese Toddlers with Autism exhibits sound psychometric properties and may serve as an early screening tool for Chinese children with ASD aged 12-24 months, however, external validation is still required to establish its generalizability.

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10. Sharp KE, Baczewski L, Bertollo JR, Neuman CC, Lopez A, Carel E, Verbalis A, Pugliese CE, Kenworthy L. It’s part of me: autistic adolescents thoughts and feelings towards their autistic identity/autism diagnosis. Front Psychiatry. 2026; 17: 1767141.

INTRODUCTION: Adolescence is characterized by active and ongoing identity development. Autism is one aspect of identity and positive feelings about one’s autistic identity predict better self-esteem and psychological wellbeing among autistic people. This study aimed to explore autistic adolescents’ thoughts, feelings, and attitudes about their autism diagnosis. METHODS: Sixty autistic adolescents (Average Age = 16.65 years) in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area participated in brief semi-structured interviews asking the adolescents to describe their current diagnoses, feelings toward those diagnoses, and whether they disclose their diagnoses to friends or feel comfortable talking about them in social settings. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to code interview responses and generate themes. RESULTS: From the interviews, five main themes were generated related to participant feelings toward their autism diagnosis: 1) value of neurodivergent community, 2) autism terminology, 3) stigma or stereotypes about autism, 4) journey to understanding, and 5) autistic identity. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the diverse, complex, and nuanced thoughts autistic adolescents have about their autism diagnosis. Factors such as internalized stigma, neurodivergent community, and knowledge about autism impact identification with an autism diagnosis. Our findings emphasize the importance of neurodivergent community and neurodiversity-affirming views to increase positive autistic identity and self-acceptance.

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11. Wang X, Zhou L. Challenges in Independent Living for Middle-Aged Autistic Adults in China: A Qualitative Study. Autism. 2026: 13623613261478882.

As the first cohort of formally diagnosed autistic individuals in China enters later life, the disruption of premature old-age care among middle-aged autistic adults-while they strive for independent living in old age-has emerged as an urgent public health issue. This study employed an exploratory qualitative design. Data collection methods included 34 semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Analysis revealed that premature care disruption unfolds through three sequential stages. First, while families still provided care, three resource deficits undermined independent aging for middle-aged autistic adults: lack of labor insurance, depleted household savings, and reduced care support in single-parent structures. Second, when family care capacity ruptured, reliance on institutional care was accompanied by multiple systemic limitations, including age-based exclusion and services that eroded rather than supported independent living. Third, families explored charitable trusts as an emerging strategy, yet these remained accessible primarily to middle-income households and left critical gaps in legal protection, asset management, and long-term social support. Middle-aged autistic adults in China experience a structural mismatch between their chronological midlife status and advanced-aged care needs, resulting in the premature breakdown of conditions for independent living. These findings offer critical implications for advancing the goal of healthy aging among autistic populations.Lay AbstractAs the first cohort of formally diagnosed autistic individuals in China reaches middle and older age, many are facing a serious problem. They need care typically associated with old age, even though they are only in their 40s and 50s. This study explored why this happens and what families can do about it. We found that care disruption unfolds in three phases over time. First, while families were still caring for their children at home, many struggled to build enough savings and support for the future. Most middle-aged autistic adults had no work insurance. Years of caregiving had drained family resources. Single-parent families faced extra strain. Second, when parents became too old or ill to continue caring, families faced a crisis. Care homes often refused to accept autistic adults over 55. Even when accepted, these facilities failed to support independent living. Staff sometimes delivered meals directly to residents rather than helping them learn to do things for themselves. Third, after parents could no longer provide care, some families explored charitable trusts. These arrangements can provide money after parents die, but they require families to have assets such as property or savings to place in trust. They do not solve problems such as loneliness, daily support, or safety from bullying. Our findings show that middle-aged autistic adults are aging prematurely because of gaps in the care system. We hope these results will help policymakers design better support for autistic adults as they grow older.

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12. Xu Y, Zhan W, Garg H, Gibson H, Chen Y. Evaluating the parents taking action intervention among low-resourced Chinese immigrant families of children with autism: pre-, post-, and follow-up outcomes. Front Psychiatry. 2026; 17: 1774712.

This study evaluates the changes over three different points of assessment on family and child outcomes of the Parents Taking Action (PTA) program among underserved Chinese immigrant families raising children with autism. Despite growing autism prevalence among Asian American children, Chinese immigrant families continue to face cultural, linguistic, and systemic barriers in accessing timely and effective services. The culturally-adapted Parents Taking Action-Chinese intervention was delivered virtually by trained community health workers (CHWs) with lived experiences. Twenty-eight parents were recruited from Chicago and New York City. Over a 10-week period, families participated in peer-led sessions covering evidence-based strategies (EBS), communication, play, advocacy, and coping. Family empowerment and caregivers’ self-efficacy in using EBS were maintained at the 2-week post-intervention. Notably, child outcomes-such as reductions in challenging behaviors, improvements in social communication, and increased access to clinical services-showed significant improvement at 3-month post-intervention, though they were not evident immediately post-intervention. These findings highlight the promise of scalable, community-based, and culturally responsive interventions to reduce disparities in autism care for Chinese immigrant families.

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