The influence of characteristics of a child with autism spectrum disorder on the psychological well-being of parents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17721/BPSY.2024.2(20).13Keywords:
autism spectrum disorder, psychological well-being, personal growth, positive relationships with others, environmental management, self-acceptanceAbstract
Background. The ability of parents to effectively promote the development and successful adaptation of children with autism spectrum disorders depends on their own emotional states and psychological well-being. Parents' subjective evaluation of their child's difficulties stemming from autism symptoms significantly affects their sense of self and overall life satisfaction. The aim of the study was to identify the influence of a child's characteristics on the main indicators of psychological well-being in parents.
Methods. Empirical data were obtained through a questionnaire method (author's questionnaire) and the "Psychological Well-being Scale" by Carol D. Ryff, and their processing was carried out using the nonparametric statistical criterion of Mann-Whitney and the Kendall's Tau-b method.
Results. The findings revealed a predominant low level of psychological well-being, particularly concerning parents' perceptions of personal growth (50% of the surveyed respondents reported a low level of this indicator). Satisfaction in the areas of environmental management, personal growth, positive relationships with others, and self-acceptance tends to decline with an increase in the number of difficulties caused by the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. No significant differences in psychological well-being indicators were found in relation to children's speech and sensory issues.
Conclusions. The most sensitive aspects of the psychological well-being of parents raising children with autism spectrum disorders were identified as: "Environmental management", "Personal growth", "Positive relationships with others", "Self-acceptance" (including the number of types of difficulties, behavioral issues, sleep disorders), and "Life goals". Behavioral problems, their frequency, and sleep disorders were the most significant factors influencing differences in the levels of psychological satisfaction of caregivers.
References
Список використаних джерел
Пасічняк Р. Ф. (2024). Нейробатьківство в контексті виховання дітей з розладами аутистичного спектра. Психологічні студії. Волинський національний університет імені Лесі Українки, 1, 138–143. https://doi.org/ 10.32782/psych.studies/2024.1.18
Сердюк, Л. З. (2017). Структура та функція психологічного благопо-луччя особистості. Актуальні проблеми психології: Збірник наукових праць Інституту психології імені Г.С. Костюка НАПН України. Пси-хофізіологія. Психологія праці. Експериментальна психологія, 5(17), 124–133. https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/709129/1/Сердюк%201.pdf
Якнюнас, Є. Є., & Гусак, Н. Є. (2019). Чинники батьківського стресу батьків, які виховують дитину з розладами аутистичного спектра. Психо-логія та психосоціальні інтервенції, 2, 67–74. https://doi.org/10.18523/ 2617-2348.2019.2.67-74
Alsa, A., Sovitriana, R., Ekasari, A., & Endri, E. (2021). Psychological well-being of mothers with autistic children. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 11, 247-254. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2021-0144.
Herring, S., Gray, K., Taffe, J., Tonge, B., Sweeney, D., & Einfeld, S. (2006). Behaviour and emotional problems in toddlers with pervasive developmental disorders and developmental delay: Associations with parental mental health and family functioning. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50(12), 874–822. https://10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00904.x.
Cai, R. Y., Uljarevic, M., & Leekam S. R. (2020). Predicting mental health and psychological wellbeing in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder: Roles of intolerance of uncertainty and coping. Autism Research, 13(10), 1797–1801. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2341
Chandler, S., Howlin, P., Simonoff, E., O'Sullivan, T., Tseng, E., & Kennedy, J. (2016). Emotional and behavioural problems in young children with autism spectrum disorder. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 58(2), 202–208. https://10.1111/dmcn.12830
Dykens, E. M., Fisher, M. H., Taylor, J. L., Lambert, W., & Miodrag, N. Reducing distress in mothers of children with autism and other disabilities: A randomized trial (2014). Pediatrics, 134(2), Article e454–63. https://10.1542/peds.2013-3164.
Ingersoll, B., & Hambrick, D. (2011). The relationship between the broader autism phenotype, child severity, and stress and depression in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(1), 337–344. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2010.04.017.
Pruitt, M., Rhoden, M., & Ekas, N. (2018). Relationship between the broad autism phenotype, social relationships and mental health for mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 22(2), 171–180. https://doi.org/ 10.1177/1362361316669621
Ryff, C. D. & Singer, B. (1998) The Contours of Positive Human Health. Psychological Inquiry, 9, 1–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli0901_1
Salomone, E., Leadbitter, K., Aldred, C., Barrett, B., Byford, S., Charman, T., ... Consortium, T. P. (2018). The association between child and family characteristics and the mental health and wellbeing of caregivers of children with autism in mid-childhood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(4), 1189–1198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3392-x
Yamada, A., Suzuki, M., Kato, M., Suzuki, M., Tanaka, S., Shindo T., ... Furukawa, T. (2007). Emotional distress and its correlates among parents of children with pervasive developmental disorders. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 61(6), 651–657. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1819. 2007.01736.x
References
Alsa, A., Sovitriana, R., Ekasari, A., & Endri, E. (2021). Psychological well-being of mothers with autistic children. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 11, 247-254. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2021-0144.
Cai, R. Y., Uljarevic, M., & Leekam S. R. (2020). Predicting mental health and psychological wellbeing in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder: Roles of intolerance of uncertainty and coping. Autism Research, 13(10), 1797–1801. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2341
Chandler, S., Howlin, P., Simonoff, E., O'Sullivan, T., Tseng, E., & Kennedy, J. (2016). Emotional and behavioural problems in young children with autism spectrum disorder. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 58(2), 202–208. https://10.1111/dmcn.12830
Dykens, E. M., Fisher, M. H., Taylor, J. L., Lambert, W., & Miodrag, N. Reducing distress in mothers of children with autism and other disabilities: A randomized trial (2014). Pediatrics, 134(2), Article e454–63. https://10.1542/peds.2013-3164.
Herring, S., Gray, K., Taffe, J., Tonge, B., Sweeney, D., & Einfeld, S. (2006). Behaviour and emotional problems in toddlers with pervasive developmental disorders and developmental delay: Associations with parental mental health and family functioning. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50(12), 874–822. https://10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00904.x.
Ingersoll, B., & Hambrick, D. (2011). The relationship between the broader autism phenotype, child severity, and stress and depression in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(1), 337–344. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2010.04.017.
Pasichniak, R. (2024). Neuroparenting in the context of education of children with autism spectrum disorder Psychological Studies. Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. 1, 138–143. [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.32782/psych.studies/2024.1.18.
Pruitt, M., Rhoden, M., & Ekas, N. (2018). Relationship between the broad autism phenotype, social relationships and mental health for mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 22(2), 171–180. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361316669621
Ryff, C. D. & Singer, B. (1998) The Contours of Positive Human Health. Psychological Inquiry, 9, 1–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli0901_1
Salomone, E., Leadbitter, K., Aldred, C., Barrett, B., Byford, S., Charman, T., . . . Consortium, T. P. (2018). The association between child and family characteristics and the mental health and wellbeing of caregivers of children with autism in mid-childhood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(4), 1189–1198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3392-x
Serdiuk, L. (2017). The structure and function of psychological well-being. Actual Problems of Psychology: Scientific Papers of the G.S. Kostiuk Institute of Psychology Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine. Psychophysiology. Psychology of work. Experimental Psychology, 5(17), 124–133 [in Ukrainian]. https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/709129/1/Сердюк%201.pdf
Yakniunas E., Gusak, N. (2019). Parental stress in families of children with autism. psychology and psychosocial interventions, 2, 67–74 [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.18523/2617-2348.2019.2.67-74
Yamada, A., Suzuki, M., Kato, M., Suzuki, M., Tanaka, S., Shindo T., ... Furukawa, T. (2007). Emotional distress and its correlates among parents of children with pervasive developmental disorders. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 61(6), 651–657. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1819. 2007.01736.x
