Maternal stress and family quality of life in response to raising a child with autism: From preschool to adolescence |
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| Institution: | 1. Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Australia;2. Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Australia;1. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Campus Heymans, Ghent University Hospital, 2B3, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium;2. Centre of Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven, & Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium;3. Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium;4. Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium;5. Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium;1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan;2. Department of Senior Citizen Service Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy & Science, Tainan, Taiwan;3. Department of Business Administration and Language Education Center, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan;4. Department of Otolaryngology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan;5. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan;6. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan;1. Department of Health Sciences, Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez, Anillo Envolvente del PRONAF y Estocolmo s/n, Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico;2. School of Sciences of Physical Culture, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico;3. Biomedicine Unit, School of Higher Studies Iztacala, National Autonomous University of México, Tlalnepantla, Mexico;1. Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran;2. Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran;3. Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences & Health Services, Hamadan, Iran;1. Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany;2. Radboud University Nijmegen, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;3. School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia;4. Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND) at Karolinska Institutet, Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Women''s and Children''s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden;5. Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm County Council, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | While the impact of raising a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is well documented, with mothers reporting higher levels of stress than mothers of children with other disabilities, positive maternal outcomes have also been identified. What remains unclear, however, is the role of child age on maternal outcomes. We sought to clarify the role of child age in maternal stress and family quality of life (FQoL) in mothers raising a child with ASD. Participants included 140 mothers of children aged 3–16 years grouped to represent four key stages of childhood (preschool, early school years, middle school, early high school). Using a cross-sectional design, mothers completed questionnaires assessing potential risk (e.g., child problem behaviour, symptom severity) and protective (e.g., family characteristics) factors attributed to maternal outcomes. The results revealed significant age related group differences in child internalising behaviour and ASD symptomatology between the early and middle school years. Lower levels of adaptive social behaviour in older age groups were also found. Although mothers of older children reported significantly less support from professionals than mothers of younger children, no significant age effects were found to contribute to maternal reports of stress or FQoL. The current findings support the view that mothers appear to demonstrate stable levels of stress and FQoL despite fluctuations in key child variables and a reduction in supports, across age, highlighting the ongoing nature of maternal needs and heightened levels of child symptomatology during adolescence. |
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| Keywords: | Autism Stress Family quality of life Child behaviour Social support |
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