From depression to life satisfaction in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders

• Author: A. I. Vasîlca/L. T. David
• Position: Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania/Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania
• Pages: 57-62

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 11 (60) No. 1 - 2018

FROM DEPRESSION TO LIFE SATISFACTION IN

MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

SPECTRUM DISORDERS

A. I. VASÎLCA1 L. T. DAVID2

Abstract: Autism represent a feared diagnostic that produce anxiety and

emotional disturbance each time a parent encounters a prospective problem

in the child’s life (McConnell Savage, & Breitkreuz, 2014; Davis & Carter

2008). 106 mothers (aged 20-49 years) half with typical children, half with

children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder were questioned using life

satisfaction, depression, anxiety, parental stress and life orientation scales.

Information about time passed from when the diagnostic was certain was

also collected. Anxiety, depression and parental stress is significant higher in

mothers with children with autism, but life satisfaction and life orientation

do not differ from those of mothers of typical children. Also, life satisfac tion

and optimism increase as time passes since the child was first diagnosed and

depression decrease. The results are in line with scientific literature and help

specialist to understand and offer better support to mothers in need.

Key words: autism, life satisfaction, depression, anxiety, parental stress.

1. Introduction

Autism is considered a pervasive developmental disorder of neurobiologi cal origins,

implying altered interaction abilities, altered communication skills, diminished and

repetitive interests and actions (Marcelli, 2003). The general term - autism spectrum

disorders (ASD) underlie heterogeneous manifestations from nonverbal children with

highly deteriorated behavior until prodigies and scientist who exhibit mannerism or

narrow and ritual behaviors (Leaf, McEachin, Dayharsh, & Boehm, 2010; Predescu,

2011). A particular manifestation encounter by ASD persons is that people, animals and

objects are frequently treated the same as instruments, in order to gain satisfaction, and

rarely as gratifying companionship (Dover & Couteur, 2007).

Raising a child with development problems is stressful for different reasons: the

disorder is a life time condition that requires short and long-term handling, the cognitive

abilities of the child are unequal developed, he/she may demonstrate disruptive

behavior, lack of adaptive actions, unbalanced sensorial input needed to interact with

1 Transilvania University of Braşov, Romania

2 Transilvania University of Braşov, Romania, lauradavid@unitbv.ro