Brain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia.
Brain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia.
Res Dev Disabil. 2021 Apr;111:103874. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103874. Epub 2021 Jan 29.
Although it has been reported for some time that parenting an autistic child is associated with elevated anxiety and depression, no direct comparison has been published regarding the relative anxiety and depressive states of parents of an autistic son versus an autistic daughter.
To investigate the presence of differences in anxiety and depression in parents of autistic girls and boys, and to identify if there were any meaningful child-based correlates of those states.
A sample of 51 parents of young autistic males (M age = 10.2 yr, SD = 2.8 yr, range to 6-17 yr) and 51 parents of autistic females (M age = 10.1 yr, SD = 2.7 yr, range to 6-17 yr) completed the GAD7 and PHQ9. Autistic children were assessed for IQ and autism severity.
Although there were no significant differences between the two sets of parents' GAD7 or PHQ9 total scores, there were significant and meaningful differences at the individual GAD7 and PHQ9 item level. Moreover, when examined at the within-child-sex subgroup level, different aspects of the autistic sons' and daughters' age and IQ were correlated with specific items from the GAD7 and PHQ9.
Because these items were somatic in nature, implications are discussed for possible treatment strategies with these parents.
尽管一段时间以来一直有报道称，养育自闭症儿童会导致父母焦虑和抑郁水平升高，但尚未发表过关于自闭症男孩和女孩的父母的相对焦虑和抑郁状态的直接比较。
调查自闭症男孩和女孩的父母中焦虑和抑郁的存在差异，并确定这些状态是否与孩子有任何有意义的关联。
对 51 名自闭症男孩（M 年龄=10.2 岁，SD=2.8 岁，年龄范围为 6-17 岁）和 51 名自闭症女孩的父母（M 年龄=10.1 岁，SD=2.7 岁，年龄范围为 6-17 岁）的焦虑症和抑郁症（GAD7 和 PHQ9）进行了调查。自闭症儿童的智商和自闭症严重程度进行了评估。
尽管两组父母的 GAD7 或 PHQ9 总分均无显著差异，但在个别 GAD7 和 PHQ9 项目上存在显著且有意义的差异。此外，当在儿童性别亚组内进行检查时，自闭症男孩和女孩的年龄和智商的不同方面与 GAD7 和 PHQ9 的特定项目相关。
由于这些项目具有躯体性质，因此讨论了针对这些父母的可能治疗策略的影响。
