The impact on the family of the co-existing conditions of children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

We aimed to investigate whether the impact on families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with the number and/or type of emotional and behavioral co-existing conditions that parents/carers of children with ASD reported as occurring frequently. In addition, we examined whether there was a greater impact on families if their child was male, had lower levels of language, had more severe autism symptomatology, and whether impact was associated with the number and/or type of co-existing conditions. Families were recruited from large UK research databases. 420 parents/carers of children aged 3 years 2 months to 18 years 8 months completed the revised Impact on Family (IoF) Scale and reported on the frequency/rate of their child's co-existing conditions. Parents/carers reported higher mean IoF scores if their child: had a greater number of frequent co-existing conditions; had sleep problems; was only able to communicate physically; and had more severe autism symptomatology. The development and implementation of targeted treatment and management approaches are needed to reduce the impact of co-existing conditions on family life. Autism Res 2018, 11: 776-787. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Lay summary: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is commonly associated with emotional and/or behavior conditions that affect family life. Parents/carers of children with ASD who: (a) reported a greater number of frequent co-existing conditions, (b) had sleep problems, (c) were only able to communicate physically, and (d) had more severe symptoms characteristic of autism, reported a greater burden/strain on the family. Treatment approaches to target co-existing conditions alongside characteristics of ASD are needed to reduce their impact on family life.

Keywords: ASD; autism; co-existing conditions; impact on the family; sleep.