Parental Stress Regarding Communication and Language Skills in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Background: Autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders that most often have profound impact on a person itself, as well as on parents, caretakers, and family life in whole. Parents of a child with ASD often have higher levels of stress and psychological distress. Aim of this study was to examine the stress sources, its frequency and predictability in parents of children with ASD, in relation to the communication and language skills of their children.

Subjects and methods: The sample consisted of 80 participants who are parents of children with ASD. The study was conducted using a questionnaire made for this research. Three groups of variables were analyzed: parental stress; child's communication; and child's language variables. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS and included basic statistical parameters and multiple regression analysis.

Results: The most common sources of parental stress are caring for the child's future; difficulties of the child with speech, language and communication; difficulties of the child in establishing contact with peers and other persons; and inappropriate behavior of the child (anger, aggression, stereotypical behaviors…). Multiple regression analyses used to determine whether a child's communication and language skills were valid predictors of parental stress showed significance.

Conclusions: ASD child's skills like showing gestures; looking, answering, and turning when called by name; making it known when he/she needs help or wants an object; answering simple 'Yes/No' questions; and establishing contact with peers, are valid predictors of some stress sources of the parents. Proper involvement in the development of a child's communication and language skills has numerous benefits, not only for the child, but also for the parental stress recognition and its potential frequency decrease.