Stress, anxiety and depression in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders in Kazakhstan: Prevalence and associated factors
Alibekova R. Kai Chan C. Crape B. Kadyrzhanuly K. Gusmanov A. An S. Bulekbayeva S. Akhmetzhanova Z. Ainabekova A. Yerubayev Z. Yessimkulova F. Bekisheva A. Ospanova Z. Rakhimova M.
11 October 2022Cambridge University Press
Global Mental Health
2022#9472 - 482 pp.
Introduction Studies worldwide reported increased levels of stress among parents of children with autism due to the unique caregiving challenges. While research has shown that parents and autistic childs demographics and behavioral characteristics are associated with psychological distress among caregivers of children with autism, very few studies have investigated the impact of the caregivers unmet needs on various aspects of the perceived family burden. Methods This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms among a wide range of 146 parents with different sociodemographic characteristics, social support and unmet needs who care for children with autism spectrum disorder. These parents were recruited from autism non-governmental organizations and the National Childrens Rehabilitation Center in Astana, Kazakhstan, a post-Soviet country in Central Asia. Multiple linear regression analyses were utilized to examine the relationship of parental psychological distress variables with social support, unmet needs and parental and child sociodemographic characteristics. Results Significantly higher levels of stress and depression were reported among parents who perceived their needs as being unmet or extremely unmet as addressed by societal acceptance as compared to parents who reported adequate levels of needs met by social acceptance. Employed parents and parents with a higher level of perceived friends support had less symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Conclusions Increasing public awareness about autism and providing early detection and interventions for distressed caregivers of children with autism may be helpful in improving healthy functioning of parents and the entire family. Copyright
Anxiety , autism spectrum disorder , caregivers , depression , stress
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Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
National Childrens Rehabilitation Center, Corporate Fund University Medical Center, Astana, Kazakhstan
Master of Public Health Program, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Medicine
Department of Biomedical Sciences
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
National Childrens Rehabilitation Center
Master of Public Health Program
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Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026