EARLIER PREDICTORS OF PARENTAL COPING, QUALITY OF LIFE AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING IN PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD): A FOLLOW-UP STUDY AFTER 4-6 YEARS

Abstract

Caregivers of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience greater stress and reduced mental well-being compared to caregivers of typically developing children or children with other developmental conditions. In an earlier cross-sectional study involving 119 Singaporean caregivers of 2-7-year-old children with ASD, parental appraisal of the impact of the child’s autism on the family; coping strategies used; child autism severity; child adaptive functioning; and other family characteristics were examined. Deficits in child sociability and health/physical/behavior problems predicted poorer parental mental well-being, while coping strategies of maintaining family integration and maintaining social support were significant moderators associated with decreased parental depressive symptoms. The present study provides a prospective follow-up of the participants after 4-6 years. Continuity and change in child ASD-related factors and caregiver adaptation outcomes over time; early predictors of later caregiver outcomes and; bi-directionality of parent depressive symptoms and child ASD-related factors are explored. In addition to the parental depressive symptoms measured in the first study, family quality of life is also measured. Overall, results showed that over time, child adaptive functioning improved; child maladaptive behaviours remained stable; parental coping patterns shifted; parental appraisal of impact of child’s ASD on the family remained generally unchanged; parental depressive symptoms remained generally stable. Earlier parental depression predicted later parental depression. Higher parental negative appraisal predicted later reduced social quality of life. There were mixed findings regarding helpfulness of coping patterns, with some evidence that family integration as coping could be helpful in improving later parental mental well-being.