Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39869274›Full record

ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2026

A Qualitative Analysis of Unintentional Injuries in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Casie H Morgan, Alecia Mercier, Brianna Stein, Kristi Carter Guest, Sarah E O'Kelley, David C Schwebel

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Casie H MorganDepartment of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, Birmingham, USA. morgacas@musc.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1515-6548
Alecia MercierDepartment of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, Birmingham, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-2625-3782
Brianna SteinDepartment of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, Birmingham, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-9804-0374
Kristi Carter GuestDepartment of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, Birmingham, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4279-8017
Sarah E O'KelleyDepartment of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, Birmingham, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6025-0074
David C SchwebelDepartment of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, Birmingham, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2141-8970

Funding

Traumatic Stress Across the Lifespan: A Biopsychosocial Training ProgramT32MH018869 · NIMH · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · PI CARLA KMETT DANIELSON, DEAN Gaines KILPATRICK · 1988 to 2026
$7.2M
NIMH NIH HHS T32 MH018869NIMH NIH HHS T32MH018869
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePrior research demonstrates that children with autism are more likely to experience unintentional injuries than the general population. Limited research exists on the symptoms or traits directly related to autism and this elevated injury rate, especially from the perspective of families with children with autism. This study used qualitative methodology to elucidate risk factors that may contribute to unintentional injuries in children with autism from the perspective of mothers raising children with autism.

methodsParticipants included 15 mothers reporting on their children with autism. The mothers engaged in a semi-structured qualitative interview consisting of questions related to child characteristics, injury concerns and experiences, injury prevention strategies and resources, and safety behaviors. Interviews were transcribed and coded in NVivo following a systematic, deductive approach.

resultsInjury risk and concern among mothers was generally related to both the diagnostic and associated features of ASD as well as commonly co-occurring behaviors or disorders. Mothers reported that deficits in social communication and social interaction, plus restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior, contributed to increased unintentional injury risk. Additionally, mothers reported that general developmental differences and behavior during play or exploration increased risk of injury.

conclusionsBy considering the lived experiences of families of children with autism, this study reveals that specific diagnostic features, associated features, and other behaviors often co-occurring with autism underlie parental perceptions of increased risk of and concern for unintentional injury in children with autism. These findings guide where intervention is needed and inform development of evidence-based, practical safety interventions.

Indexed as

Accidental InjuriesAutism Spectrum DisorderMothersWounds and InjuriesAdultChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansMaleQualitative ResearchRisk FactorsSocial InteractionASDAutismDevelopmental differencesEarly childhoodSafety awarenessSocial communicationUnintentional injury risk

Identifiers

PMID39869274
PMCPMC12301987

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.