The concept of health psychology as the basis for the effectiveness of rehabilitation and habilitation of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other neuropsychological developmental disorders.

The object of the research is the process of rehabilitation and habilitation of children with ASD. The subject of the research is the concept of health psychology as a condition for the successful rehabilitation and habilitation of children with ASD. The goal of the research is the experimental justification of the effectiveness of rehabilitation and habilitation of children with ASD and other neuropsychological developmental disorders, based on the principles and methods of the health psychology concept. The process of rehabilitation and habilitation and the health of children with ASD are considered from the perspective of the theory and practice of health psychology. Special attention is given to understanding the health of a child with ASD in the context of the main provisions of health psychology, which is defined as a systemic formation, as a balance of mental, physical, and social well-being of an individual. ASD is considered as a specific systemic disorder of the mental development of children, which manifests itself in disruptions in social interaction, neurophysiological, and somatic functioning of the body. Research methods include neurophysiological methods, laboratory methods, psychological examination methods, individual nutrient calculation methods, rational nutrition methods, behavioral intervention methods, and quantitative and qualitative data processing methods. The study was conducted among children aged 4 to 10 diagnosed with ASD, totaling 48 individuals at the Health Center of the Research Laboratory of Clinical Pathopsychology "SANAT" in Novorossiysk. The main conclusion of the conducted research is the effectiveness of the secondary prevention program for children with ASD and other neuropsychological development disorders, grounded on the principles and methods of the health psychology concept. The inclusion of children with ASD in the secondary prevention program ensures positive dynamics in the neurophysiological development of children: improvements in cerebral blood flow indicators, vascular condition, and bioelectrical activity of the brain, improvements in markers of brain damage, as well as an increase in social communication skills and a reduction in comorbid ASD disorders. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that it scientifically substantiates for the first time the effectiveness of the theory and practice of health psychology concerning children with ASD. The obtained results allow for recommending the implementation of the proposed program to achieve positive dynamics in neurophysiological and psychological development, reduction of comorbid symptoms, and improvement of somatic health in children with ASD within the framework of secondary prevention programs.

health psychology, rehabilitation, habilitation, secondary prevention, autism spectrum disorders, social communication disorders, neurophysiological development, dietary regimen, neurodietology, somatic health