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- Title
Correlations of Physical and Psychological Health in Parents of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Authors
Johnson, Norah L.; Bekhet, Abir K.; Zint, Emily; Wang, June; Pena, Sylvia; Van Hecke, Amy; Garnier-Villarreal, Mauricio; Ng, Alexander
- Abstract
Background: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have social communication difficulties and restricted, repetitive, and/or sensory behaviors or interests. The prevalence of ASD is now 1 in 36 individuals. Parents of individuals with ASD face challenges that can affect their physical and psychological well-being. Objective: With the long-term goal to tailor an exercise program, the purpose of this study was 2-fold: (1) establish the baseline physical and mental health of parents of individuals with ASD and (2) estimate the relationship of physiologic variables with psychological variables of health for parents of individuals with ASD. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study (N = 44) explored physical health measures and the correlation between physical and psychological health, using measures of anxiety, stress, parenting depression, and positive thinking for parents who care for individuals with ASD. Results: The common characteristics that these parents shared was high body fat and low physical activity. Body fat was negatively correlated to total step count (r = −0.428, P <.05), grip strength (r = −0.319, P <.5), and total distance walked in the week (r = −0.661, P <.01), and positively correlated to 5-times sit to stand (r = 0.337, P <.05). Low activity correlated to increased parenting stress of advocating for child's needs (r = −0.310, P =.043). Conclusions: Understanding relationships between physical and psychological health informs effective interventions and support systems for parents. Parents need supports to be able to prioritize exercise. Future studies should include a larger sample to verify these effects.
- Subjects
UNITED States; CROSS-sectional method; STATISTICAL correlation; HEALTH status indicators; MENTAL health; DATA analysis; STATISTICAL significance; RESEARCH funding; AUTISM; QUESTIONNAIRES; ANXIETY; MULTIVARIATE analysis; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; STATE-Trait Anxiety Inventory; RESEARCH methodology; RESEARCH; PSYCHOLOGICAL stress; STATISTICS; PARENTS of children with disabilities; DATA analysis software; PSYCHOSOCIAL factors; PHYSICAL activity; WELL-being; MENTAL depression; CRITICAL thinking; CHILDREN
- Publication
Western Journal of Nursing Research, 2024, Vol 46, Issue 7, p532
- ISSN
0193-9459
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/01939459241253221