Perceived Stress among Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A State-Wide Study

Nik Aida Nik Adib, Mohd Ismail Ibrahim, Azriani Ab Rahman, Raishan Shafini Bakar, Nor Azni Yahaya, Suria Hussin and Wan Nor Arifin Wan Mansor
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Nik Aida Nik Adib: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Mohd Ismail Ibrahim: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Azriani Ab Rahman: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Raishan Shafini Bakar: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medical Sciences, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Nor Azni Yahaya: Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, 15200 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Suria Hussin: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, 15200 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Wan Nor Arifin Wan Mansor: Unit of Biostatistics and Research Methodology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 8, 1-11

Abstract: Background: Caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience increased stress and more significant negative caregiving consequences than those with typically developing children. There is a lack of studies specifically focusing on stress among caregivers with ASD children in Asian countries. The current study examines levels of perceived stress and factors associated with it among caregivers in Kelantan, Malaysia. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the Malay version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was administered to 227 caregivers of children with ASD. The caregivers were recruited from ASD databases in four tertiary hospitals in Kelantan and a meeting was set up during the child’s follow-up in the clinic. Multiple linear regression analyses were applied to determine the predictors of perceived stress. Results: The mean total perceived stress score was 20.84 (4.72). This was considered higher than average. Higher perceived stress was significantly predicted among caregivers who live far from the health institution, caregivers who do not own transportation to bring the child to the treatment center, and caregivers who have an ASD child with a learning disability. Conclusion: Caregivers of an ASD child perceived significant stress while taking care of their children. Institutions should alleviate the factors that were predicted to increase the caregivers’ perceived stress to improve the quality of the lives of children and ASD families as a whole.

Keywords: perceived stress; caregivers; autism spectrum disorder (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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