Autism Spectrum Disorder Health Impacts Short-term Accommodation: Caregivers’ Perspectives

There has been limited research on how health-related barriers impact the short-term accommodation experiences of individuals with ASD and their caregivers. This quantitative study examines the effects of key health-related factors on perceived satisfaction and future behavioural intentions in short-term accommodation settings. Utilising the biopsychosocial model of disability and a positivist, explanatory approach, data was collected using an online survey with 327 parents and caregivers of individuals with ASD in the United States. Data analysis was conducted using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modelling (SEM), mediation analysis, and one-way ANOVA (Welch) tests. This study identified ten significant barrier factors, four of which were related to sensory issues. Notably, auditory barriers and sleep-related barriers had significant negative impact on satisfaction, while better room access positively influenced it. This thesis revealed that the severity of the diagnosis moderated the impact of several barriers among individuals diagnosed with ASD. The mediation analysis revealed that satisfaction has full mediated effects on the auditory, sleep, and room access factors with both revisit intention and intention to recommend. The research’s theoretical contributions include identifying factors associated with health-related barriers, including the impact of sensory sensitivities, and providing a model showing access barriers staying in short term accommodation based on the biopsychosocial models. The research further contributes to knowledge by revealing the satisfaction moderating relationships between the health barriers with revisit intention, and intention to recommend for staying in short term accommodation. The research also provides practical recommendations for accommodation providers, caregivers, and policymakers to improve inclusive travel experiences. This study makes a valuable empirical contribution to the accessible tourism literature by mapping out ASD-specific barriers and their effects on behaviour.