ERIC Number: EJ1360890
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2396-9415
Available Date: N/A
Quality of Life and Coping Strategies Used by Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Oman
ALBusaidi, Alya Mohammed Said; ALMasroori, Salima Ali Saud; Awladthani, Balqees Mohammed Said; ALKhaldi, Sumaiya Abdullah; Al Alawi, Noof; Al Salmani, Asma Ali
Autism & Developmental Language Impairments, v7 2022
Objective: Raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can have a significant impact on quality of life (QOL). This study was conducted to assess the QOL and coping strategies of parents of children with ASD in Oman. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Masarra psychiatric hospital. Telephone interviews were conducted with the parents of all children diagnosed with ASD and attending Al-Masarra Hospital between January 2018 and October 2021. Data were collected using the Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised and World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-Brief. Results: A total of 304 parents participated in the study (response rate: 100%), of which 59.5% were female. The mean age of the parents and children with ASD was 40.4±6.9 and 8.4 ±2.3 years, respectively. Most children with ASD were male (78.3%) and entirely dependent upon their parents (18.1%). Seeking social support was the most common coping strategy (75.53 ±13.99), while escape avoidance was the least common (51.78 ±8.04). Most parents (48.7%) rated their QOL as good to very good, with acceptable scores in the psychological (70.92 ±11.22) and social (73.27 ±11.46) domains, borderline in the physical health domain (63.51±7.77), and poor in the environmental domain (58.31 ±11.00). Conclusions: Omani parents of children with ASD utilize various coping strategies, with coping skills considered a positive index for mental health in general. No significant differences were observed between Omani fathers and mothers in terms of QOL or coping strategies.
Descriptors: Quality of Life, Coping, Parents, Children, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Foreign Countries, Parent Attitudes, Social Support Groups
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Oman
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A