Premium
Quality of life in mothers of preschoolers with high‐functioning pervasive developmental disorders
Author(s) -
Suzumura Shunsuke
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/ped.12560
Subject(s) - distress , medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , clinical psychology , pervasive developmental disorder , autism , developmental psychology , psychiatry , developmental disorder , psychology , nursing
Background Parents of children with pervasive developmental disorders ( PDD ) are likely to experience serious distress. The aims of this study were to (i) assess distress among mothers of preschoolers with high‐functioning PDD ( HFPDD ); and (ii) examine its relation to the child's behavioral characteristics. Methods Participants were 30 mothers of preschoolers with HFPDD , and 30 mothers of a matched control group. S hort F orm 36 H ealth S urvey Q uestionnaire (version 2), and the S trengths and D ifficulties Q uestionnaire were used for assessment. The children's autistic traits were assessed using the total number of items for the DSM ‐ IV ‐ TR autistic disorder diagnosis. Results Mothers in the HFPDD group were more distressed mentally than physically. Neither physical nor mental distress in the group was related to the child's autistic traits, while their mental distress was significantly related to the child's behavior problems. Conclusions Mothers in the HFPDD group were at increased risk of impaired mental wellbeing. Maternal mental distress in the group was significantly related to general behavior problems, but not to autistic traits in the child.