Parent's Stress and Quality of Life for Children Diagnosed with Autism

Ali Abd El-Sattar, Aliaa; Gharib Sabaq, Amal; Abd El-Ghany Mohamed, Rawia

doi:10.21608/jnsbu.2023.307335

Parent's Stress and Quality of Life for Children Diagnosed with Autism

Document Type : Scientific peer reviewed journal

Authors

¹ Nursing supervisor in pediatric department at Alshohdaa Hospital

² Professor of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing - Benha University, Egypt

³ Assistant professor of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing - Benha University, Egypt

10.21608/jnsbu.2023.307335

Abstract

Background: Autism was currently one of the most prominent and widely discussed pediatric
condition and was a set of neurodevelopmental disorders. Aim of study: The aim of this study was
to assess parent's stress and quality of life for children diagnosed with autism. Design: A
descriptive design was utilized to conduct this study. Settings: The study was carried out at
outpatient clinics of Benha Specialized Pediatric Hospital, and Al–shohdaa Hospital at menoufia
city. Sample: A convenient sample of (75) parents accompanied their autistic children were
selected from the previously mentioned settings. Total of data collection: Five tools were used:
Tool (1) A structured interviewing questionnaire. Tool (II) Developmental assessment for children,
Tool (III) Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) –Second Edition, Tool (IV) Parental stress
Index-short form scale and Tool (V) Pediatric Quality Of Life 4.0 Generic Core Scale. Results:
Less than half of the studied fathers were in the age groups 45 years old , and more than two fifth of
the studied mothers were in the age groups less than 25 years old. More than two thirds of the
studied parents have unsatisfactory knowledge regarding autism, while less than one third of them
have satisfactory knowledge regarding autism. Less than half of the studied children had moderate
autism less than half of the studied parent had moderate stress level and less than two thirds of
studied children had low level quality of life. Conclusion: There was a highly statistically
significant positive correlation between total parent's stress, knowledge, and total quality of life of
their children. Recommendations: Providing training programs for parents of children diagnosed
with autism, which helps them to be able to deal in the best way with their children.

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