PreprintArticleVersion 2Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Relationship between Perception of Anxiety Symptoms and Quality of Life of Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Reference Center in Amazon
Version 1
: Received: 15 November 2023 / Approved: 15 November 2023 / Online: 15 November 2023 (14:43:53 CET)
Version 2
: Received: 15 March 2024 / Approved: 18 March 2024 / Online: 18 March 2024 (10:24:28 CET)
da Silva, R.V.; de Lima Carvalhal, M.M.; Gomes, D.L. The Relationship between Anxiety Symptoms and Perceived Quality of Life among Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Amazon. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health2024, 21, 545.
da Silva, R.V.; de Lima Carvalhal, M.M.; Gomes, D.L. The Relationship between Anxiety Symptoms and Perceived Quality of Life among Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Amazon. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21, 545.
da Silva, R.V.; de Lima Carvalhal, M.M.; Gomes, D.L. The Relationship between Anxiety Symptoms and Perceived Quality of Life among Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Amazon. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health2024, 21, 545.
da Silva, R.V.; de Lima Carvalhal, M.M.; Gomes, D.L. The Relationship between Anxiety Symptoms and Perceived Quality of Life among Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Amazon. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21, 545.
Abstract
The relationship between perception of anxiety and quality of life in caregivers of children with autism was verified. To verify quality of life, the Short Form Healthy Survey Item was used; perception of anxiety was assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory. 80 caregivers of children with autism participated, with 68.7% of caregivers being mothers. Of the total number of caregivers, 68.8% had a severe level of anxiety. Regarding quality of life, they demonstrated greater impairment in Limitation due to physical aspects, Limitation due to emotional aspects, Vitality and Pain. Caregivers with severe anxiety levels had worse quality of life in the domains of pain (p = 0.012), social aspects (p =< 0.001), limitation due to emotional aspects (p = 0.001) and mental health (p =< 0.001). However, in the functional capacity domain, caregivers with a moderate level of anxiety had a better physical capacity score (p = 0.001). There was a negative correlation between the general anxiety score and the general physical (p = 0.029) and general emotional component of quality of life (p =< 0.001). It was found that caregivers of children with ASD present losses related to psychological factors, quality of life and the lack of social support.
Keywords
quality of life; anxiety; autism; caregivers
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Other
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
