title: Self-assessed health in caregivers of persons with autism spectrum disorder: associations with depressive symptoms, positive cognitions, resourcefulness, and well-being.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Caregiving for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can affect family caregivers' self-assessed health. The purpose of this study was to determine whether depressive symptoms, positive cognitions, resourcefulness, and well-being will differ significantly among those who rated their health as fair, good, or excellent.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a secondary analysis of 109 ASD caregivers who were recruited from the Interactive ASD Network.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depression was significantly lower among those who rated their health as excellent than among those who rated their health as fair. Positive cognitions, resourcefulness, and well-being were significantly higher among those who rated their health as excellent than among those who rated their health as fair.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions to enhance caregivers' positive cognitions, resourcefulness, and well-being are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Marquette University College of Nursing, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Abir K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bekhet
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000451:nursing*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction
keywords: Depressive symptoms; positive cognitions; resourcefulness; self-assessed health