title: Depression and quality of life in mothers of children with pervasive developmental disorders.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dysphoria/depressive symptoms in mothers of autistic children and to identify correlations between quality of life and socio-demographic profile. An exploratory, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out, involving 20 mothers, by applying a socio-demographic profile questionnaire, the Brazilian version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the WHOQOL-Bref quality of life scale. Dysphoria/depression criteria were found in 15% of the mothers. Overall quality of life was evaluated as positive in 70%, however only 40% were satisfied with their health. The Physical domain (mean=69.4) was perceived as the best, and environment domain as the worst (mean=60.8). Quality of life had a positive association with family income and level of education, and a negative association with depression. Considering the results, further research, especially on those variables that were not statistically relevant, is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Mater's Scholarship Holder Capes, [corrected] SP, Brazil. faveroma@usp.br
authors.forename: Maria Angela
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fávero-Nunes
authors.forename: Manoel Antônio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: dos Santos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010555:Personality Inventory; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires