Comparison of depression, burnout and hopelessness levels of parents of children with autism spectrum disorders with severity of autism spectrum disorder

This causal-comparative study aims at exploring relationship between depression, burnout and hopelessness levels of parents of children with autism spectrum disorders with severity of autism spectrum disorder. Participants of the study include 194 mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders. Data were collected via Socio-Demographic Information Form, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Hoplessness Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory and Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-2-Turkish Version. Data were analyzed with Independent-Samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U. Results revealed that mothers of children having higher autistic disorder index points showed higher depression, burnout and hopelessness levels than mothers of children having lower autistic disorder index points. Results were being discussed and suggestions were being provided based on related literature.