Does Attending Mainstream School Improve the Social Inclusion of Children on the Autism Spectrum and their Parents? A Cross-Sectional Study in China

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by early onset difficulties in social communication, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, and narrow interests (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; World Health Organization, 2022). Globally, the prevalence of autism was 0.4% in 2019 (World Health Organization & United Nations Children’s Fund, 2023). Recent data from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network program indicate that approximately one in 36 children has been diagnosed with autism in the U.S. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). In China, autism affects an estimated 0.7% of children under 14 years, totaling over two million, making it the most prevalent neurological and developmental disorder among children (Zhou et al., 2020).

Children on the autism spectrum often face difficulties in social and behavioral aspects, such as loneliness, reduced community involvement, stigma, discrimination, bullying, and exclusion (Ji et al., 2022; Lindsay & McPherson, 2012). These challenges can negatively impact their social skills, confidence, self-esteem, and overall life opportunities, potentially resulting in prolonged social isolation (Marsack & Perry, 2018). Strategies for social inclusion can help mitigate these consequences by improving social abilities, broadening social connections, boosting self-confidence, and combating discrimination (Edwards et al., 2022). Recognizing this, China’s State Council has emphasized the importance of supporting the integration of children on the autism spectrum into society (The State Council, 2018).

Autism not only impacts the social inclusion of children but also affects their parents, particularly mothers. Parents often make substantial personal sacrifices by leaving jobs and reducing social activities to provide care (Brisini & Solomon, 2020). In Chinese culture, the interdependent nature of family dynamics exacerbates these effects (Wang et al., 2023). Social inclusion is a complex and multidimensional process involving equal opportunities for social participation in both objective engagement and subjective experiences (Simplican et al., 2015). Numerous studies have shown that children on the autism spectrum and their families face notable challenges regarding social inclusion (Arias et al., 2018; Cameron et al., 2022; Holmes, 2024). However, there is a lack of quantitative research on social inclusion in China.

Simplican et al. (2015) proposed an ecological model of social inclusion that considers the various factors that impact it. In the case of children on the autism spectrum, schools are essential for their social inclusion as they offer crucial developmental environments and opportunities. However, public special education schools in China mainly cater to children with visual, hearing, and physical disabilities. As a result, many parents of children on the autism spectrum turn to private rehabilitation institutions for assistance (Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, 2023; Tang & Liu, 2023). While special education can enhance communication and social skills, it may also restrict their access to mainstream education and real-world social interaction settings (Zheng et al., 2021). Inclusive education was first introduced globally in the 1994 Salamanca Statement (UNESCO, 1994), and later incorporated into China’s education policy framework (The State Council, 2014). It has become a pivotal strategy in addressing educational disparities for children with special needs. However, inclusive education is still in its early stages of development in China, commonly referred to as integrated education. It represents the main form of combining general education and special education, with ‘mainstreaming’ as the primary approach (The State Council, 2017).

Attending mainstream classes has been promoted as the primary approach for ensuring compulsory education for children on the autism spectrum (Li et al., 2021). Moreover, it has increasingly been adopted as a core rehabilitation goal by parents (Shenzhen ‘Dami & Xiaomi’ official account, 2018), reflecting a broader societal shift towards educational inclusivity and support for children with developmental differences. However, mainstream school non-attendance is common among these children in China (Totsika et al., 2020), compared to the higher rates of school attendance observed in developed countries (Department for Education of UK, 2024; Yao, 2020). A better understanding of the mainstream education status for children on the autism spectrum is needed to formulate better future policies.

Previous studies have mainly focused on the challenges faced by children on the autism spectrum in mainstream schools, such as academic struggles (Kong & Guo, 2020), anxiety (Zainal & Magiati, 2019), and emotional and behavioral issues (Hastings et al., 2021). However, there is limited literature on the benefits of attending mainstream school for children on the autism spectrum. Some research has highlighted improvements in home adjustment (Woodman et al., 2016) and socialization opportunities (Dahle, 2003). In promoting the social inclusion of children on the autism spectrum, inclusive education plays a crucial role (Beghin, 2021; Lynch & Irvine, 2009; Simón et al., 2023). Nevertheless, no studies have yet explored the relationship between attending mainstream school and the social inclusion of children on the autism spectrum and their parents in China.

This study aimed to investigate the association between attending mainstream school and social inclusion for children on the autism spectrum and their parents. The study considered the severity of autism symptoms and other relevant factors. We hypothesized that attending mainstream school would positively impact the social inclusion of children on the autism spectrum and their parents.

Overall, 36.2% of children on the autism spectrum attended mainstream school. The children had a mean age of 6.0 years (SD 2.1) with 19.8% being female. Parents had a mean age of 35.6 years (SD 5.1) with 88.1% being female. The mean social inclusion score for children was 23.9 (SD 6.0; interquartile range 20–27; range 11–44) and for parents was 54.3 (SD 8.4; interquartile range 50–58; range 28–76).

Table 1 displays the characteristics of parent-child pairs according to whether the child attended mainstream school. Children in mainstream school were older, had milder autism, lived in urban areas, and had higher family monthly income compared to those not enrolled in mainstream school. Parents of children in mainstream school tended to have higher educational levels.

Figure 1 displays box plots showing the distribution of social inclusion scores among children on the autism spectrum and their parents based on attending mainstream school. Children attending mainstream school had significantly higher levels of social inclusion than their counterparts (mean [SD]: 26.2 [6.4] vs. 22.7 [5.4], p < 0.0001), as did their parents (55.5 [8.1] vs. 53.7 [8.6], p = 0.003). Similar trends were seen in two subscales of parents’ social inclusion: social contact (mean [SD]: 14.7 [3.0] vs. 14.1 [3.1], p = 0.006), participation in activities (mean [SD]: 22.2 [3.5] vs. 21.3 [3.7], p < 0.001), social acceptance (mean [SD]: 12.3 [2.2] vs. 12.1 [2.2], p = 0.07), and subjective feeling (mean [SD]: 12.6 [2.1] vs. 12.4 [2.2], p = 0.26). The Pearson correlation coefficient between children’ social inclusion and that of their parents was 0.48 (p < 0.001).

Table 2 displays the association between attending mainstream school and the social inclusion of children on the autism spectrum and their parents. Children in mainstream school showed significantly greater social inclusion, with an age- and gender- adjusted mean difference of 3.6 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.8–4.4; p < 0.001), compared to those in other settings. This association remained significant even after considering the severity of autism symptoms, the interaction between mainstream school attendance and symptom severity, and other factors (p = 0.008). Parents of children in mainstream school also exhibited higher levels of social inclusion, with an age- and gender- adjusted mean difference of 2.1 (95% CI: 0.9–3.2; p < 0.001). However, this difference were attenuated and became non-significant after adjusting for autism symptom severity and other factors (mean difference: 0.35 [95% CI: -1.5 to 2.2]), p = 0.71).

A significant interaction was observed between attending mainstream school and the severity of autism symptoms in relation to the social inclusion of children (p < 0.001). This interaction did not apply to the parents. Table 3 presents the findings of the subgroup analysis that investigated the association between mainstream school attendance and children’s social inclusion based on the severity of their autism symptoms. Mainstream school attendance was associated with greater social inclusion among children in both the mild and moderate/severe subgroups (both p values ≤ 0.01), with a more pronounced effect noted in the mild subgroup.

In this cross-sectional study of Chinese children on the autism spectrum and their parents, we discovered that attending mainstream school was associated with increased social inclusion in children but not in parents. The results highlight the importance of attending mainstream school for children on the autism spectrum. This is one of the few studies examining the relationship between mainstream school attendance and social inclusion in children on the autism spectrum and their parents.

Our research revealed a positive association between attending mainstream school and social inclusion for children on the autism spectrum, irrespective of the severity of their symptoms, supporting a previous study (Dahle, 2003). Two other studies focusing on school students investigated the association between social inclusion and educational achievement/sense of belonging at school. A study conducted in Australia discovered that higher levels of social inclusion were associated with an increased likelihood of completing school (Renner et al., 2024). Another study in Finland found that social inclusion mediated the relationship between school belonging and depressive symptoms in students aged 13–18 (Haddadi Barzoki, 2024). Belongingness and social inclusion are fundamental psychological needs in social settings, promoting better opportunities for meaningful interactions and close relationships (Leemann et al., 2022). These studies show that social inclusion, educational attainment, and mental health are interrelated. While attending mainstream school alone does not guarantee social inclusion, it can help provide access to educational opportunities and a sense of belonging (Mannion, 2003). This feeling of belongingness can serve as a source of learning and support in stressful times (Bennett et al., 2018). Additionally, compared to private rehabilitation institutions, mainstream schools offer children on the autism spectrum more social opportunities and diverse learning resources (Lu et al., 2023). This study is one of only a few that focuses on social inclusion and school learning for children on the autism spectrum. Our findings stress the importance of encouraging attendance at mainstream schools and implementing targeted interventions to increase social inclusion for these children. Embracing inclusive practices can enhance the educational experience for all students by promoting diversity and understanding.

Having a child on the autism spectrum attend a mainstream school was initially associated with higher levels of parental social inclusion. However, this association was not significant after considering the severity of autism symptoms and other factors. This aligns with a previous study by Liu (2021), indicating that mainstream schools in China often lack resources to help children on the autism spectrum, especially those with severe symptoms. As a result, parents must get more involved in the classroom, limiting their social interactions. In countries where assistant or resource teachers specialize in supporting these children in mainstream schools, parents can feel a significant relief from the caregiving burden (Hamid et al., 2020; Wang, 2022). Nonetheless, the shortage of special education teachers in mainstream schools in China (Xu, 2023) may explain why parents’ social inclusion did not improve with their children’s attendance at these schools. Our findings emphasize the importance of implementing effective strategies to support parents and reduce their classroom involvement. This includes updating teacher training to better serve students with different learning needs and advocating for the role of educational assistants in mainstream classrooms (Carpenter et al., 2015).

One notable finding of this study was the significant interaction between attending mainstream school and the severity of autism symptoms in relation to children’s social inclusion levels. This indicates that mainstream schools may be more beneficial for children with mild autism compared to those with moderate to severe symptoms, who may need additional support. Currently, the Chinese government has not established standardized criteria for enrolling children on the autism spectrum in mainstream schools, which contributes to schools commonly rejecting these children in China (Xu, 2020). This highlights the importance of having scientifically based and reasonable admission criteria for mainstream schools to ensure that children with moderate to severe autism symptoms are not at a disadvantage (Hastings et al., 2021; Kong & Guo, 2020; Zainal & Magiati, 2019). It is crucial that private rehabilitation institutions tailor targeted training programs for children with moderate to severe autism symptoms to prepare them for mainstream school admission. Moreover, alternative rehabilitation programs should be developed to support students whose needs are not fully addressed by mainstream schools. It is essential to understand that attending mainstream school does not always ensure inclusivity. The quality of the educational environment plays a crucial role. Building strong partnerships between special and mainstream schools by collaborating and sharing expertise is important (Shaw, 2017).

Our study shows a positive association between attending mainstream school and social inclusion for children on the autism spectrum. It emphasizes the crucial role mainstream school education plays in providing social opportunities and diverse learning resources. Our results indicate that children with mild autism may benefit more from inclusion compared to those with moderate to severe symptoms, suggesting a need for standardized admission criteria and tailored rehabilitation programs in China. Initially, attending mainstream school was associated with increased parental social inclusion, but this association became non-significant when considering autism symptom severity and other factors. This emphasizes the importance of creating effective support strategies for parents and decreasing their involvement in the classroom.