The relationship between the level of anxiety and depression in the mothers of chi̇ldren with autistic disorder and the level of autistic disorder of children in a special education and rehabilitation center in Adana

The aim of this study is to investigate whether anxiety and depression levels are related with autistic disorder level in mothers who have the child with autistic disorder. This study is a cross-sectional study using relational screening method. The sample of the study consists of 51 children aged between 3-23 years who has been diagnosed with autistic disorder who is attending a special education and rehabilitation center in Adana and their mothers. The data collection has been conducted being used Gilliam Autistic Rating Scale 2 Turkish Version (GARS-2-TV), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAE) and a sociodemographic information form prepared by the researcher. The collected data has been analyzed with the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Analysis and Simple Linear Regression Analysis method. According to the findings, a positive and statistically significant relationship has been found between the level of anxiety and depression of the mother and the level of autistic disorder of the child (r = .421, p <.01 and r = .313, p <.05). According to the regression analysis results, it has been found that the autistic disorder level is an important predictor of anxiety symptoms in mother (16%). However, the stereotypic behaviors sub-dimension of the scale and the depression symptoms of the mother, and stereotypic behaviors, the anxiety symptoms of the mother and three sub-dimensions as stereotypic behaviors, communication and social interactions of the scale have been found to be related.