Demographic, Ecological and Social Predictors of Quality of Life among Parents of Autistic Children: A Multi-Centre Cross-Sectional Study
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| Title: | Demographic, Ecological and Social Predictors of Quality of Life among Parents of Autistic Children: A Multi-Centre Cross-Sectional Study |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Raghad AbdulKareen Abdoun Al-Janabi, Zainab Ali Saleem, Faris Lami, Osamah Abbas Jaber, Shatha Mohammed Jasim, Nahid Dehghan Nayeri, Mahdi Shafiee Sabet, Ghaith Al-Gburi (ORCID |
| Source: | Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. 2025 29(8):2058-2071. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 14 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Predictor Variables, Quality of Life, Parents, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children, Parent Attitudes, Chronic Illness, Comorbidity, Mental Health, Physical Health, Marital Satisfaction, Pain, Intervention, Parent Child Relationship, Family Environment, Foreign Countries |
| Geographic Terms: | Iraq |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613251334166 |
| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| Abstract: | Parents experience lower quality of life due to the psychological, financial and social challenges of caring for an autistic child. This study aims to identify the independent demographic and social predictors of parents' quality of life, to allocate support to parents who truly need it. Al-Subtain Academy and Baghdad's National Center for Autism recruited 248 parents in a cross-sectional study from 3 January to 13 September 2024. Demographics, quality of life and social support were assessed using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Multiple linear regression models were significant for all domains except role functioning (p = 0.258). The explained variance ranged from 50.8% for health perception to 19.5% for physical functioning. Mothers reported lower health perception and physical functioning than fathers (p = 0.015, p < 0.001). Parents with chronic condition also reported lower health perception, mental health, social functioning and higher pain scores (p-values: <0.001, 0.029, 0.023, 0.014). In addition, parents of female children and those with comorbidities reported lower mental health (p-values: 0.018, 0.004). Marital satisfaction was positively associated with all domains except pain (negative association) and physical/role functioning (no association). In conclusion, mothers, younger parents, parents with chronic conditions or female children, or whose children have comorbidities should be prioritised during interventions that promote family functioning and social support. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1476930 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | Parents experience lower quality of life due to the psychological, financial and social challenges of caring for an autistic child. This study aims to identify the independent demographic and social predictors of parents' quality of life, to allocate support to parents who truly need it. Al-Subtain Academy and Baghdad's National Center for Autism recruited 248 parents in a cross-sectional study from 3 January to 13 September 2024. Demographics, quality of life and social support were assessed using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Multiple linear regression models were significant for all domains except role functioning (p = 0.258). The explained variance ranged from 50.8% for health perception to 19.5% for physical functioning. Mothers reported lower health perception and physical functioning than fathers (p = 0.015, p < 0.001). Parents with chronic condition also reported lower health perception, mental health, social functioning and higher pain scores (p-values: <0.001, 0.029, 0.023, 0.014). In addition, parents of female children and those with comorbidities reported lower mental health (p-values: 0.018, 0.004). Marital satisfaction was positively associated with all domains except pain (negative association) and physical/role functioning (no association). In conclusion, mothers, younger parents, parents with chronic conditions or female children, or whose children have comorbidities should be prioritised during interventions that promote family functioning and social support. |
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| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613251334166 |
