Tedla Jaya Shanker, Asiri Faisal, Reddy Ravi Shankar, Sangadala Devika Rani, Gular Kumar, Kakaraparthi Venkata Nagaraj
Program of Physical Therapy, Department of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Front Psychiatry. 2024 Dec 16;15:1507856. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1507856. eCollection 2024.
The study aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to typically developing peers, identify key influencing factors such as socio-demographic and comorbid conditions, and examine the impact of symptom severity on QoL outcomes.
In this cross-sectional study conducted in Saudi Arabia, 75 children with ASD were compared to 75 typically developing children matched for age and gender. QoL was evaluated using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), while the severity of autism symptoms was assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). Additional variables, including socio-demographic factors, comorbid conditions, and family environment, were collected through structured interviews and clinical assessments. Statistical analyses, including independent samples t-tests, multiple linear regression, and ANOVA, were employed to compare QoL scores, identify predictors, and assess the impact of symptom severity on QoL outcomes.
The mean overall QoL score for children with ASD was 57.86 (SD = 13.25) compared to 81.67 (SD = 10.89) for typically developing children (t = -10.56, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.90). Socioeconomic status (β = -0.25, t = -5.00, p < 0.001), comorbid ADHD (β = -0.35, t = -5.83, p < 0.001), and parental mental health issues (β = -0.45, t = -9.00, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of lower QoL. ANOVA results showed that children with severe autism symptoms had the lowest QoL scores (mean = 40.12, SD = 15.67; F = 20.45, p < 0.001, η² = 0.45).
Children with ASD showed significantly lower QoL, particularly in social and school functioning, highlighting the need for targeted interventions addressing core symptoms and environmental and family factors to improve outcomes.
本研究旨在评估自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）儿童与发育正常的同龄人相比的生活质量（QoL），确定社会人口统计学和共病状况等关键影响因素，并研究症状严重程度对生活质量结果的影响。
在沙特阿拉伯进行的这项横断面研究中，将75名ASD儿童与75名年龄和性别匹配的发育正常儿童进行比较。使用儿童生活质量量表（PedsQL）评估生活质量，同时使用自闭症诊断观察量表（ADOS）评估自闭症症状的严重程度。通过结构化访谈和临床评估收集其他变量，包括社会人口统计学因素、共病状况和家庭环境。采用独立样本t检验、多元线性回归和方差分析等统计分析方法比较生活质量得分、确定预测因素，并评估症状严重程度对生活质量结果的影响。
ASD儿童的平均总体生活质量得分为57.86（标准差 = 13.25），而发育正常儿童的平均总体生活质量得分为81.67（标准差 = 10.89）（t = -10.56，p < 0.001，科恩d值 = 1.90）。社会经济地位（β = -0.25，t = -5.00，p < 0.001）、共病注意缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）（β = -0.35，t = -5.83，p < 0.001）和父母心理健康问题（β = -0.45，t = -9.00，p < 0.001）是生活质量较低的显著预测因素。方差分析结果显示，自闭症症状严重的儿童生活质量得分最低（平均值 = 40.12，标准差 = 15.67；F = 20.45，p < 0.001，η² = 0.45）。
ASD儿童的生活质量显著较低，尤其是在社交和学校功能方面，这突出表明需要针对核心症状以及环境和家庭因素进行有针对性的干预，以改善结果。
