[P1-16] Quality of Life of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Aged 3 to 18 Years Living in Metro Manila
[Introduction] Autism poses numerous challenges on the family, thus, parents of children with autism have poorer Quality of Life (QOL) compared to other developmental conditions. The well-being of these children relies heavily on parental QOL which is affected by multiple parental and child factors. Identifying these factors will guide us in creating programs to improve QOL and alleviate family distress. This study aims to determine the QOL of parents of a child with autism and compare it across parental and child factors including adaptive behavior and autism severity.
[Methodology] Parents of children with autism aged 3 to 18 years, diagnosed by Neurodevelopmental Pediatricians at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center were included. Criteria for autism and its severity were based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5th Edition. The WHOQOL-BREF was used to assess parental QOL while the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales – II was used to assess the child’s adaptive behavior. Demographic data were also obtained.
[Results] The social relationship domain was significantly higher than the psychological, physical, and environmental domains with no difference across parent/child gender and age, education, interventions, membership in support group, autism severity and maladaptive behaviors. Employment, income and parents living together were significantly associated with higher WHOQOL-BREF scores while caregiver role and use of medications (child) were associated with lower scores.
[Conclusions] Factors associated with QOL may be used to form strategies to improve it. Factors which did not significantly affect QOL highlight the parents’ ability to cope despite the burden of autism.
[Methodology] Parents of children with autism aged 3 to 18 years, diagnosed by Neurodevelopmental Pediatricians at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center were included. Criteria for autism and its severity were based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5th Edition. The WHOQOL-BREF was used to assess parental QOL while the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales – II was used to assess the child’s adaptive behavior. Demographic data were also obtained.
[Results] The social relationship domain was significantly higher than the psychological, physical, and environmental domains with no difference across parent/child gender and age, education, interventions, membership in support group, autism severity and maladaptive behaviors. Employment, income and parents living together were significantly associated with higher WHOQOL-BREF scores while caregiver role and use of medications (child) were associated with lower scores.
[Conclusions] Factors associated with QOL may be used to form strategies to improve it. Factors which did not significantly affect QOL highlight the parents’ ability to cope despite the burden of autism.