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Zeineb Tayech
Presenter
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Ons Laabidi
Razi Hospital, Psychiatry department A , Manouba, Tunisia
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Abdelaziz Oumaya
Military Hospital of Tunis, psychiatry department, Tunis, Tunisia
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Asma Ben Ltaifa
Military Hospital of Tunis, Child psychiatry department, Tunis, Tunisia
Presenter
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Abstract
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Introduction: Caring for a child with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be deeply fulfilling. Parents are often faced with distinct challenges such as behavioral problems, cognitive and social impairment. This can heavily affect their mental health thus increasing the risk of stress, anxiety and depression especially in severe cases of ASD.
Aims: To assess the impact of having a child with ASD on parents' mental health, focusing on the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression they experience.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on parents of patients diagnosed with (ASD). Data was collected using a pre-established form that included sociodemographic information. Depressive and anxious symptoms were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The symptoms and the severity of autism were assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS).
Results: 41 parents and 41 children diagnosed with ASD were recruited. The majority of parents (78%) belong to a middle socio-economic status, with an average of 1.78 children per family. The average age of children was 7.71 years and the sex-ratio: 2/1. Among parents, 78% of them presented symptoms of anxiety and 63.4% of them showed depressive symptoms. 29.3% of the children had severe autism (Score more than or equal to 37 on CARS). A more pronounced impact was significantly associated with the severity of the ASD (pAnx < 0.01, pDep = 0.007) and the level of aggressiveness (pAnx = 0.007, pDep < 0.01). Conversely, little to no anxiety or depressive symptoms were observed in parents of children who had acquired communicative language (pAnx = 0.004, pDep < 0.01), a school integration (pAnx = 0.009, pDep = 0.006) and a good social interaction (pAnx = 0.02, pDep = 0.04).
Conclusions: These results highlighted the significant impact of children's autism symptoms on parents’ mental health. This points to the importance of comprehensive intervention programs that enhance family dynamics and alleviating parental emotional distress.
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