Investigating Parenting Stress and Quality of Life in Parents of Children with Normal-Range Intelligence Autism in Poland
Challenges Faced by Parents of Children with Autism
Parents of children diagnosed with autism encounter numerous daily challenges due to their children’s unique obstacles. Autism encompasses a diverse group of individuals, ranging from low to high intelligence, yet parents are often categorized simply as “parents of children with autism.” Recently, there has been an increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism who possess normal-range intelligence, highlighting the need to understand how parents cope with the stress associated with raising these children.
Heightened Stress Levels Among Parents
Research suggests that parents of children with normal-range intelligence autism may experience greater stress than those with children facing intellectual disabilities. This heightened stress is often attributed to delayed diagnoses, which frequently occur after the age of four. Factors contributing to parenting stress include the child’s social behavior, experiences of bullying, and a greater dependency compared to their peers. Additionally, emotional challenges faced by these children can further exacerbate parental stress.
Focus of Current Research
Most existing studies have primarily examined the stress experienced by mothers, often neglecting the experiences of fathers. A research group from Poland, led by Ewa Pisula, aimed to address this gap by exploring how both mothers and fathers of children with normal-range intelligence autism perceive their family dynamics and parenting stress. Their findings were recently published in the PLoS One journal.
Study Design and Findings
The study involved 202 parents, divided into two groups: 49 mother-father pairs of children with autism and 52 mother-father pairs of typically developing children. Participants were required to have a child diagnosed with autism, possessing normal-range intelligence, living at home, and aged between 5 and 17 years. Questionnaires were utilized to evaluate family functioning, parenting stress, and quality of life.
Results indicated that parents of children with autism reported lower overall family functioning as well as diminished individual functioning within the family unit. These parents exhibited higher levels of parenting stress and a generally lower quality of life, with mothers experiencing more stress than fathers. Notably, there was a strong correlation between the responses of mother-father pairs across the various assessments.
Support Limitations and Parental Burdens
In Poland, as in many other countries, support services for children with autism are often limited to a minority of cases, placing the onus of arranging support on the parents. Consequently, these parents face professional limitations, loss of income, social stigmatization, and isolation.
Conclusion and Future Implications
The findings of this study highlight significant differences in family functioning and parenting stress between parents of children with normal-range intelligence autism and those of typically developing children. The authors suggest that the relationships identified in this research are likely more complex than they appear. This study contributes to the understanding of how families with autistic children function, potentially paving the way for future research focused on addressing stressors and enhancing the quality of life for these families.
Source
Pisula, E., and Porebowicz-Dorsmann, A. (2017). Family functioning, parenting stress and quality of life in mothers and fathers of Polish children with high functioning autism or Asperger syndrome. PLoS One. 12(10):e0186536.