title: Comparison between the mental health of mothers of children with autism and control group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the mental health of mothers of children with autism and those of control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sample of this study consists of 32 mothers of Children with Autistic disorder and 29 mothers of children without Autism; referring to hospitals of Ahvaz city using Convenience sampling. All subjects were asked to complete Demographic questionnaire and General HealthQuestionnaire (GHQ). Data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of variance (MANOVA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  RESULTSindicated that significant differences exist in mental health (F=5.69, P=0.02) and anxiety/ insomnia (F=4.82, P=0.03), between mothers of children with Autismand control group. There were not any other significant differences in the other subscales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is essential using some mental health improving interventions for mothers of children with Autistic disorder.
authors.affiliation: Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Forough
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riahi
authors.affiliation: Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Sakineh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Izadi-Mazidi
keywords: Autism; Children; Mental health; Mother