The evaluation of marital adjustment, perceived social support and anxiety levels of parents of children with autism

Aim: Temporary or persistent illness of one or more of the family members, sight, hearing, mental or physical disability affects the harmony of all members, even the families in the most robust structure can be shaken. Our aim in this study is; marital adjustment, social support perceptions and anxiety levels of the parents of children with autism compared with the control group. Material and Methods: This study was a case-control study conducted with ethics committee approval and written consent of the participants. A total of 170 participants including 80 cases and 90 control groups participated in the study. Sociodemographic data form, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale were applied to participants. SPSS (Statistical Package fort he Social Science) 22.0 program was used for the analysis of the data. Results: 106 participants (62,4%) were female and 64 (37,6%) were male. Average age of the case and control group respectively were 36,52 ± 6,60 and 35,20 ± 6,64. The mean age of children with autism was 8,30 ± 3,85 and mean age of diagnosis was 3,44 ± 1,47. Mean of the DAS of the case and control group respectively were 95,78 and 104,27 (p=0,028). Mean of the HAD scale of the case and control group respectively were 15,89 and 14,21 (p=0,156). Mean of the MPSSS of the case and control group respectively were 51,30 and 63,87 (p=0,000). There was a significant negative correlation between DAS scores and depression scores of the parents in the case group (r = ‒0.472). In the same group, there was a significant positive correlation between DAS total scores and the total scores of MPSSS (r = 0.435). Conclucion: Marital adjustment and perceived social support of parents of children with autism was found to be lower than control group. There was no significant difference between anxiety and depression levels of the case and control group. Depression and anxiety levels of the mothers of a child with autism were found to be higher than those of fathers. Parents of a child with autism who are single children have a depression level lower than those with children over 2 and above. Depression levels decreased as the social support of the parents of children with autism perceived from the family and a special person increased. Awareness studies can be conducted intended for parents and primary health care personnel so that children with autism can be diagnosed earlier. Parents of children with autism should be accustomed to the difficulties brought by the child with autism and be provided with family planning services in order to feel fit and have new children. Professionals working in related fields need to be supportive to parents in the difficulties they may face materially and spiritually in the process of diagnosis and treatment of child with autism.