Parenting stress and affective symptoms in parents of autistic children.
We examined parenting stress and mental health status in parents of autistic children and assessed factors associated with such stress. Participants were parents of 188 autistic children diagnosed with DSM-IV criteria and parents of 144 normally developing children. Parents of autistic children reported higher levels of stress, depression, and anxiety than parents of normally developing children. Mothers of autistic children had a higher risk of depression and anxiety than that did parents of normally developing children. Mothers compared to fathers of autistic children were more vulnerable to depression. Age, behavior problems of autistic children, and mothers' anxiety were significantly associated with parenting stress.
Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
Yun
Y
Gong
Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China. yasongdu@yahoo.com.cn.
YaSong
Y
Du
Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
HuiLin
H
Li
Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
XiYan
X
Zhang
Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Yu
Y
An
Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Bai-Lin
BL
Wu
D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological
autistic children; mental health; parenting stress; parenting stress index