TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessment of health-related quality of life among primary caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
AU - Khanna, Rahul
AU - Madhavan, Sundareswaran Suresh
AU - Smith, Michael J.
AU - Patrick, Julie H.
AU - Tworek, Cindy
AU - Becker-Cottrill, Barbara
PY - 2011/9/1
Y1 - 2011/9/1
N2 - The impact of caring for a child with autism on caregivers' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to compare the HRQOL scores of caregivers of children with autism to those of the general US population and to identify the factors that influence HRQOL. Caregivers of children with autism had lower HRQOL scores than the general population. Care recipient level of functional impairment, social support, use of maladaptive coping, and burden influenced caregiver mental HRQOL. Care recipient extent of behavioral problems and social support influenced caregiver physical HRQOL. Findings emphasize the use of multi-pronged intervention approach that incorporates components aimed at improving family functioning, increasing support services, and assisting caregivers in developing healthy coping skills.
AB - The impact of caring for a child with autism on caregivers' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to compare the HRQOL scores of caregivers of children with autism to those of the general US population and to identify the factors that influence HRQOL. Caregivers of children with autism had lower HRQOL scores than the general population. Care recipient level of functional impairment, social support, use of maladaptive coping, and burden influenced caregiver mental HRQOL. Care recipient extent of behavioral problems and social support influenced caregiver physical HRQOL. Findings emphasize the use of multi-pronged intervention approach that incorporates components aimed at improving family functioning, increasing support services, and assisting caregivers in developing healthy coping skills.
KW - Autism
KW - Burden
KW - Caregiver
KW - Health-related quality of life
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=82755194994&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10803-010-1140-6
DO - 10.1007/s10803-010-1140-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 21103917
AN - SCOPUS:82755194994
SN - 0162-3257
VL - 41
SP - 1214
EP - 1227
JO - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
JF - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
IS - 9
ER -