From Depression to Life Satisfaction in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Autism represents a feared diagnosis that produces anxiety and emotional disturbance each time a parent encounters a perspective problem in the child’s life (McConnell Savage, & Breitkreuz, 2014; Davis & Carter 2008). 106 mothers (aged 20-49 years) half with typical children and half with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder were questioned using life satisfaction, depression, anxiety, parental stress, and life orientation scales. Information about the time that passed from when the diagnostic was certain was also collected. Anxiety, depression, and parental stress are significantly higher in mothers with children with autism, but life satisfaction and life orientation do not differ from those of mothers of typical children. Also, life satisfaction and optimism increase as time pass since the child was first diagnosed, and depression decrease. The results are in line with scientific literature and help specialist to understand and offer better support to mothers in need.