University of Belgrade Faculty for Special Education and Rehabilitation, Beograd, Serbia.
Institute of Human Genetics, University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine, Beograd, Serbia.
Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 2023 Jan;91(1-02):10-18. doi: 10.1055/a-1743-2770. Epub 2022 Apr 6.
Taking care of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as of children with other developmental disorders, is associated with greater parental stress. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and impact of integrative and co-morbid ASD-related symptoms on parental stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic at four time points. Testing was performed during significant changes related to the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia.
The research sample included 67 parents of children with ASD 4 to 7 years and 6 months of age. The Autism Parenting Stress Index, Gilliam Autism Rating Scale - Third Edition, diagnostic criteria for ASD from DSM-5 and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - Fourth Edition were used to assess the tested abilities.
Core behavior (problems of social development and communication skills) as well as co-morbid behaviors related to ASD (tantrums, aggressive behavior, self-injurious behavior and difficulties with transitions) caused the highest degree of parental stress. Post hoc tests that used Bonferroni correction found that parental stress caused by basic and co-morbid behaviors gradually decreased from first to fourth measurement, respectively. Sleep and toilet training problems, as well as co-morbid physical problems, caused the greatest degree of parental stress during the first measurement. Measuring total parental stress caused by integrative and co-morbid symptoms related to ASD showed that it was at the highest level during the first measurement, decreased during the second measurement and remained unchanged during the third and fourth measurements.
Time, as a repeating factor, during the COVID-19 pandemic has an effect on lowering the levels of parental stress caused by all examined ASD-related domains. These results may be useful in creating individual programs to support parents of children with ASD during the COVID-19 pandemic.
照顾自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）儿童，与照顾其他发育障碍儿童一样，与父母压力较大有关。本研究的目的是在 COVID-19 大流行期间的四个时间点确定 ASD 相关症状的综合和共病对父母压力水平的影响。在塞尔维亚 COVID-19 大流行状态发生重大变化期间进行了测试。
研究样本包括 67 名 4 至 7 岁 6 个月大的 ASD 儿童的父母。使用自闭症父母压力指数、吉尔曼自闭症评定量表 - 第三版、DSM-5 中 ASD 的诊断标准和韦氏学前和小学智力量表 - 第四版评估测试能力。
核心行为（社会发展和沟通技能问题）以及与 ASD 相关的共病行为（发脾气、攻击行为、自残行为和过渡困难）导致了最高程度的父母压力。使用 Bonferroni 校正的事后检验发现，分别从第一次测量到第四次测量，基本行为和共病行为引起的父母压力逐渐降低。睡眠和如厕训练问题以及共病的身体问题在第一次测量中引起最大程度的父母压力。测量与 ASD 相关的综合和共病症状引起的总父母压力表明，在第一次测量时处于最高水平，在第二次测量时降低，在第三次和第四次测量时保持不变。
时间作为一个重复因素，在 COVID-19 大流行期间对降低所有检查的 ASD 相关领域引起的父母压力水平有影响。这些结果可能有助于在 COVID-19 大流行期间为 ASD 儿童的父母制定个人支持计划。
