Perceived psychological status among family caregivers of an autistic child: the role of coping strategies and self-esteem as predictors
| Date | 13 February 2024 |
| Pages | 792-802 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-08-2023-0081 |
| Published date | 13 February 2024 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
| Author | Abd Alhadi Hasan,Amal ALsulami |
Perceived psychological status among
family caregivers of an autistic child: the
role of coping strategies and self-esteem
as predictors
Abd Alhadi Hasan and Amal ALsulami
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this studyis to assess psychological distressamong parents of children with
autism spectrum disorder (ASD), self-esteem as a predictor of such distress and the effect of coping
strategies.
Design/methodology/approach –A descriptive correlational study design was conducted using a
convenientsample of parents of ASD children (N¼93).
Findings –This study revealed that the parents ofan ASD child experienced a high level of anxiety
(M ¼15.89), a moderate level of depression (M ¼15.85) and a mild l evel of stress (M ¼16.86).
Parents of ASD children also reported a low self-esteem score ( M¼13.27). Mothers of ASD children
reported higher levels of psychological distres s, lower levels of self-esteem and more frequent
utilisation of maladaptive coping strategie s than fathers of ASD children.
Practical implications –Parents of children with ASD experience a significant level of psychological
distress; however, this may be improved by developing programmes and psychological interventions
focusedon improving parents’ self-esteemand using more active coping strategies.
Originality/value –To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study conducted in Saudi
Arabiathat predict the psychological status amongfamily caregivers of an autistic child.
Keywords Parents of ASD, Psychological distress, Predictors, Self-esteem, Coping strategies
Paper type Research paper
Background
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with an increasing
number of reported cases in recent years. Children who are diagnosed with ASD are
characterised by withdrawal into the self and a fantasy world of their own creation (Recio
et al.,2020
). Children with ASD experience significant defects in communication and social
interaction functions (Hossain et al.,2017).
ASD prevalence ranges between 5 and 110 per 10,000 children. ASD is reported in all
races, ethnicities and socio-economic groups and is four times more common among boys
than girls. ASD is the third most common developmental disability after intellectualdisability
and cerebral palsy (Estes et al., 2019).
In Saudi Arabia, 42,500 ASD cases were diagnosedin 2019, and in 2018, the prevalence of
ASD in Saudi Arabia was 1 per 167 children, while many cases remained undiagnosed
(Almandil et al.,2019). Children with ASD report complex patterns of behaviour that affect
family members’ and parents’ lives specifically (Schiltz et al., 2018). Meanwhile, parents of
Abd Alhadi Hasan is based
at the Dr Soliman Fakeeh
College of Nursing and
Medical Sciences, Jeddah,
Saudi Arabia.
Amal ALsulami is based at
the Department of
Community and Mental
Health Nursing Sciences
College of Nursing, Taif
University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
PAGE 792 jMENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION jVOL. 28 NO. 5 2024, pp. 792-802, ©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/MHSI-08-2023-0081
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