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Thursday, May 7, 2009
Northwest Hall (Chicago Hilton)
3:30 PM
Background: Few parents are prepared for the unrelenting demands of raising a child with autism. Mothers of children with autism are at particularly high risk for compromised health outcomes (Hastings , 2003). While a plethora of research exists on maternal stress and increased rates of maternal depression, virtually nothing is known about specific supports and services that contribute to better health outcomes in mothers.
Objectives: To 1. identify informal and formal supports associated with better health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and personal growth) in mothers of children with autism; and 2. determine whether informal/formal supports mediate or moderate the relationship between child disruptive behaviour and mothers’ health. Methods: Participants included 94 mothers (M age = 41.18, SD = 7.13) of children with autism (M age = 10.7, SD = 4.91). Mothers completed a series of questionnaires on demographics, child disruptive behaviour (Developmental Behaviour Checklist), supports (Family Support Scale) and maternal mental health outcomes (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Positive Contributions Scale).
Results: Preliminary analyses reveal that 71 percent of mothers reported anxiety and 31 percent of mothers reported depression, both in the clinical range. Mothers of younger children reported higher levels of depression (r = -.35, p < .01). Children’s disruptive behaviour was related to mothers’ anxiety (r = .25, p < .05) and depression (r = .3, p < .05) but not to supports received. Mothers with lower depression scores reported more helpful informal (i.e., family and community; r = -.41, p < .01) and formal (e.g., professional) support (r = -.24, p < .05). Mothers with higher education reported less child disruptive behaviour (r = .28, p < .01), more informal support (r = .34, p < .01), and more helpful community support (r = .23, p < 05). More helpful community support was also related to mothers’ reporting more positive personal growth (r = .30, p < .01). Regression and mediator/moderator analyses will address the question of how supports might predict/influence mothers' health.
Conclusions: As predicted, children’s behavioural difficulties were related to mothers’ depression and anxiety. Counter to predictions, children’s disruptive behaviour was not related to informal or formal supports. Instead, mothers’ with better health and higher education received more helpful informal and formal supports. In contrast, "high-risk" mothers, those with younger children, poorer health and/or lower education, were not as likely to access supports associated with better health. Discussion focuses on the critical question of how supports and services might more effectively address the needs of mothers caring for children with autism.
Objectives: To 1. identify informal and formal supports associated with better health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and personal growth) in mothers of children with autism; and 2. determine whether informal/formal supports mediate or moderate the relationship between child disruptive behaviour and mothers’ health. Methods: Participants included 94 mothers (M age = 41.18, SD = 7.13) of children with autism (M age = 10.7, SD = 4.91). Mothers completed a series of questionnaires on demographics, child disruptive behaviour (Developmental Behaviour Checklist), supports (Family Support Scale) and maternal mental health outcomes (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Positive Contributions Scale).
Results: Preliminary analyses reveal that 71 percent of mothers reported anxiety and 31 percent of mothers reported depression, both in the clinical range. Mothers of younger children reported higher levels of depression (r = -.35, p < .01). Children’s disruptive behaviour was related to mothers’ anxiety (r = .25, p < .05) and depression (r = .3, p < .05) but not to supports received. Mothers with lower depression scores reported more helpful informal (i.e., family and community; r = -.41, p < .01) and formal (e.g., professional) support (r = -.24, p < .05). Mothers with higher education reported less child disruptive behaviour (r = .28, p < .01), more informal support (r = .34, p < .01), and more helpful community support (r = .23, p < 05). More helpful community support was also related to mothers’ reporting more positive personal growth (r = .30, p < .01). Regression and mediator/moderator analyses will address the question of how supports might predict/influence mothers' health.
Conclusions: As predicted, children’s behavioural difficulties were related to mothers’ depression and anxiety. Counter to predictions, children’s disruptive behaviour was not related to informal or formal supports. Instead, mothers’ with better health and higher education received more helpful informal and formal supports. In contrast, "high-risk" mothers, those with younger children, poorer health and/or lower education, were not as likely to access supports associated with better health. Discussion focuses on the critical question of how supports and services might more effectively address the needs of mothers caring for children with autism.