Abstract
Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by differences in social communication, restricted and repetitive behaviors, and unique sensory and cognitive processing styles. Many autistic individuals show relative strengths in visual processing, making visual-based interventions an appealing modality. Viewing personal photographs of family and friends—rich in emotional salience and autobiographical relevance—may serve as a low-cost, accessible means to enhance communication, memory, and emotional regulation in autistic individuals.
Aims: This systematic meta-analysis aimed to evaluate quantitative and qualitative evidence on the developmental, social, and emotional benefits of viewing personal and family/friend photographs for individuals with ASD.
Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus for studies published between 2000 and 2024. Inclusion criteria required participants with a clinical ASD diagnosis and an intervention or observation involving personal photographs depicting family or friends. Twenty-eight studies met criteria, encompassing experimental, observational, and qualitative designs. Data extraction captured outcomes in social communication, autobiographical memory, emotional regulation, and neurocognitive engagement. Quantitative data were synthesized using a random-effects meta-analysis; qualitative data were analyzed thematically.
Results: Quantitative synthesis indicated medium-to-large pooled effect sizes for social communication improvement (g = 0.61, 95% CI [0.48, 0.74]), autobiographical memory recall (g = 0.57, 95% CI [0.43, 0.71]), and anxiety reduction (g = 0.44, 95% CI [0.29, 0.59]). Neuroimaging data showed increased fusiform face area activation for familiar faces. Qualitative themes revealed photographs as safe social stimuli, identity anchors, and communication scaffolds, particularly for minimally verbal individuals.
Conclusions: Viewing personal photographs aligns with autistic strengths, reduces social anxiety, and enhances autobiographical recall and communication. While promising, further research is needed to establish standardized protocols, assess long-term outcomes, and test efficacy across diverse subgroups. This approach represents a neurodevelopmentally appropriate, cost-effective tool for integration into clinical, educational, and home environments.
Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, personal photographs, family photos, social communication, autobiographical memory, emotional regulation, visual processing, reminiscence therapy
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