JNCR
Journal of Nursing Care Research

The mission of the journal is to contribute to the development of nursing science and care practices in Turkey and internationally. It is also to promote and disseminate new knowledge and research data for evidence-based care practices at all levels of nursing services. The Journal of Nursing Care Research deals with Fundamentals of Nursing, Internal Medicine Nursing, Surgical Nursing, Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Child Health and Diseases Nursing, Mental Health and Diseases Nursing, Public Health Nursing and Management in Nursing and accepts articles on these topics.

eISSN: 3023-7270
Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International License.

Online Manuscript System

Index
Original Article
A descriptive study on the depression, anxiety, and stress levels of mothers with autistic children
Abstract
Aims: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that profoundly impacts a child’s life and has significant effects on the mothers, particularly the primary caregivers.
Methods: This descriptive study aims to examine the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among mothers of children registered at an autism center in Iraq. The research was conducted between September 2022 and May 2023 at the Dhi Qar Autism Center Autism Center in Iraq, with the participation of 218 mothers. Data for the study were collected using a Personal Information Form and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale.
Results: The findings revealed that the majority of participants were 40 years old and above, had two children, possessed literacy skills, and struggled to meet their financial needs. Mothers were found to experience high levels of depression, very high levels of anxiety, and moderate levels of stress. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation was identified between depression and anxiety (r=0.647, p<0.001), while a weak positive correlation was observed between depression and stress (r=0.219, p=0.001).
Conclusion: Based on these results, it is recommended that healthcare professionals provide mothers with therapeutic, preventive, and mental health-enhancing support. The study underscores the importance of addressing the mental health challenges faced by mothers of children with autism

Keywords : Anxiety, mother, depression, autism, stress

Download Article


Al-Farsi, O. A., Al-Farsi, Y. M., Al-Sharbati, M. M., &amp; Al-Adawi, S. (2016).Stress, anxiety, and depression among parents of children with autismspectrum disorder in Oman: a case-control study. Neuropsychiatr DisTreatm, 12, 1943-1951.
Ali, A. M., Ahmed, A., Sharaf, A., Kawakami, N., Abdeldayem, S. M.,&amp; Green, J. (2017). The Arabic version of the depression anxiety stressscale-21: cumulative scaling and discriminant-validation testing. Asian JPsychiatry, 30, 56-58.
Alibekova, R., Chan, C. K., Crape, B., Kadyrzhanuly, K., Gusmanov, A., An,S., ... &amp; Rakhimova, M. (2022). Stress, anxiety and depression in parents ofchildren with autism spectrum disorders in Kazakhstan: prevalence andassociated factors. Glob Ment Health, 9, 472-482.
Alshahrani, M. S., &amp; Algashmari, H. (2021). The moderating effect offinancial stress and autism severity on development of depression amongparents and caregivers of Autistic children in Taif, Saudi Arabia. J FamMed Prim Care, 10(3), 1227-1233.
Almansour, M. A., Alateeq, M. A., Alzahrani, M. K., Algeffari, M. A., &amp;Alhomaidan, H. T. (2013). Depression and anxiety among parents andcaregivers of autistic spectral disorder children. Neurosci J, 18(1), 58-63.
An, S., Chan, C. K., &amp; Kaukenova, B. (2020). Families in transition:parental perspectives of support and services for children with autism inKazakhstan. Int J Disab, Developm Educ, 67(1), 28-44.
Baranczuk, U., &amp; Pisula, E. (2022). Parental stress and symptoms ofdepression: a preliminary report. Int J Developm Disab, 68(4), 445-453.
Beck, A., Daley, D., Hastings, R. P., &amp; Stevenson, J. (2004). Mothers&rsquo;expressed emotion towards children with and without intellectualdisabilities. J Intellect Disab Res, 48(7), 628-638.
Bramhe, V. (2019). Depression and anxiety in mothers of children withautism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities. Indian J MentHealth, 6(3), 272.
Brobst, J. B., Clopton, J. R., &amp; Hendrick, S. S. (2009). Parenting childrenwith autism spectrum disorders: the couple&rsquo;s relationship. Focus AutismOther Developm Disab, 24(1), 38-49.
Bulley, A., Henry, J. D., &amp; Suddendorf, T. (2017). Thinking about threats:memory and prospection in human threat management. ConsciousnessCognition, 49, 53-69.
Christi, R. A., Roy, D., Heung, R., &amp; Flake, E. (2023). Impact of respite careservices availability on stress, anxiety and depression in military parentswho have a child on the autism spectrum. J Autism Developm Disord,53(11), 4336-4350.
Dem&scaron;ar, A., Bakracevic, K. (2023). Depression, anxiety, stress, and copingmechanisms among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. IntJ Disab, Developm Educ, 70(6), 994-1007.
Falk, N. H., Norris, K., &amp; Quinn, M. G. (2014). The factors predicting stress,anxiety and depression in the parents of children with autism. J AutismDevelopm Disord, 44(12), 3185-3203.
Fırat, S. (2016). Otistik &ccedil;ocukların anne-babalarının depresyon ve kaygıd&uuml;zeyleri. Cukurova Med J, 41(3), 539-547.
Gong, Y., Du, Y., Li, H., Zhang, X., An, Y., &amp; Wu, B. L. (2015). Parentingstress and affective symptoms in parents of autistic children. Sci China LifeSci, 58(10), 1036-1043.
Gowda, G. S., Komal, S., Sanjay, T. N., Mishra, S., Kumar, C. N., &amp; Math, S.B. (2019). Sociodemographic, legal, and clinical profiles of female forensicinpatients in Karnataka: a retrospective study. Indian J Psychologic Med.41(2),138-143.
Hayes, S. A., Watson, S. L. (2013). The impact of parenting stress: a meta-analysis of studies comparing the experience of parenting stress in parentsof children with and without autism spectrum disorder. J Autism DevelopmDisord, 43(3), 629-642.
Kaya, M. O., Y&ouml;ndem, Z.D. (2020). Otizmli &ccedil;ocuğu olan annelerdepsikoeğitim grup programının algılanan stres d&uuml;zeyine etkisi. Uşak &Uuml;niEğit Araşt Derg, 6(1), 20-33.
Kousha, M., Attar, H. A., Shoar, Z. (2016). Anxiety, depression, and qualityof life in Iranian mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. JChild Health Care, 20(3), 405-414.
Myers, J. E. (2003). Coping with caregiving stress: a wellness-oriented,strengths-based approach for family counselors. Fam J, 11(2), 153-161.
Newschaffer, C. J., Fallin, D., Lee, N. L. (2002). Heritable and nonheritablerisk factors for autism spectrum disorders. Epidemiol Rev, 24(2), 137-153.
Oruche, U. M., Gerkensmeyer, J., Stephan, L., Wheeler, C. A., &amp; Hanna, K.M. (2012). The described experience of primary caregivers of children withmental health needs. Arch Psychiatr Nurs, 26(5), 382-391.
Padden, C., James, J. E. (2017). Stress among parents of children with andwithout autism spectrum disorder: a comparison involving physiologicalindicators and parent self-reports. J Developm Physical Disab, 29(4), 567-586.
Pastor-Cerezuela, G., Fern&aacute;ndez-Andr&eacute;s, M. I., T&aacute;rraga-M&iacute;nguez, R., &amp;Navarro-Pe&ntilde;a, J. M. (2016). Parental stress and ASD: relationship withautism symptom severity, IQ, and resilience. Focus Autism Other DevelopmDisab, 31(4), 300-311.
Paul, R. (2008). Interventions to improve communication in autism. ChildAdolesc Psychiatr Clin North Am, 17(4), 835-856.
Picardi, A., Gigantesco, A., Tarolla, E., Stoppioni, V., Cerbo, R., Cremonte,M., ... &amp; Nardocci, F. (2018). Parental burden and its correlates in familiesof children with autism spectrum disorder: a multicentre study with twocomparison groups. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health: CP &amp; EMH, 14,143-176.
Rezendes, D. L., Scarpa, A. (2011). Associations between parental anxiety/depression and child behavior problems related to autism spectrumdisorders: the roles of parenting stress and parenting self-efficacy. AutismRes Treatm, 2011, 395190.
Roy, N., Amin, M. B., Mamun, M. A., Sarker, B., Hossain, E., &amp;Aktarujjaman, M. (2023). Prevalence and factors associated withdepression, anxiety, and stress among people with disabilities duringCOVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study. PLoS One,18(7), e0288322.
Sajib, W. H., Nahar, J. S., Algin, S., Faruque, S., Arafat, M. Y., &amp; Sonaullah,M. (2022). Depressive and anxiety disorders among the parents of autismin Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study. Mymensingh Med J: MMJ, 31(4),1068-1072.
Servi, C., Baştuğ, Y. E. (2018). Otizm spektrum bozukluğunda erken d&ouml;nembelirtileri: Annelerin g&ouml;r&uuml;şlerinin incelenmesi. MA Melekoğlu,(Ed.), 28,166-179.
Uğuz, Ş., Toros, F., İnan&ccedil;, B. Y., &Ccedil;olakkadıoğlu, O. (2004). Zihinsel ve/veya bedensel engelli &ccedil;ocukların annelerinin anksiyete, depresyon ve stresd&uuml;zeylerinin belirlenmesi. Klin Psikiyatri, 7(1), 42-47.
Article available in :
Volume 1, Issue 1, 2024
Page : 7-12
https://doi.org/10.51271/JNCR-0002
Article Information
Received : 12 Şub 2024
Accepted : 16 Mar 2024
Published : 24 Mar 2024
Corresponding Author :

Hilal Seki Öz: Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Kırşehir, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Al-Graiti, R. H. A. & Seki Öz, H. (2024). A descriptive study on the depression, anxiety, and stress levels of mothers with autistic children. J Nurs Care Res. 1(1),7-12.

Read: 235
Cited: 0
Download : 130
_Footer