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Warreman EB, Lloyd SE, Nooteboom LA, Leenen PJ, Terry MB, Hoek HW, van Rossum EF, Vermeiren RR, Ester WA. Psychological, behavioural, and physical aspects of caregiver strain in autism-caregivers: a cohort study. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 64:102211. [PMID: 37767192 PMCID: PMC10520302 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background People who give care to autistic individuals (autism-caregivers) experience higher levels of caregiver strain than people who provide care for individuals with other chronic conditions (non-autism-caregivers). This places them at higher risk for psychological, behavioural and physical health concerns. The aim of this study is to delineate psychological, behavioural, and physical aspects of caregiver strain in autism-caregivers compared to non-autism-caregivers. Methods We included 3354 adult caregivers from the general population in the Netherlands participating in the second assessment (January, 1, 2014-December, 31, 2017) of the Lifelines Cohort. In this cohort study, using multivariable regression adjusted for age, sex, and socioeconomic status, we analysed psychological (anxiety and depression based on a Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and self-reported stress and perceived health), behavioural (questionnaire-assessed physical activity, alcohol use, and smoking), and physical aspects (body mass index, waist circumference, and leukocyte-counts) of caregiver strain in autism-caregivers (n = 722) compared with non-autism-caregivers (n = 2632). Findings Autism-caregivers reported more stress (OR 3.61, 95% CI 2.60-4.99). Both anxiety (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.37-2.49) and depressive disorders (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.17-2.86) were more common in autism-caregivers than in non-autism-caregivers. Perceived health, physical activity, alcohol use, and smoking were not different between autism- and non-autism-caregivers. In autism-caregivers, lymphocyte- and monocyte-counts were lower than in non-autism-caregivers. Interpretation In this large cohort, autism-caregivers had worse psychological health than non-autism-caregivers. Moreover, autism-caregiving might be associated with an altered immune balance. These findings underline the higher caregiver strain in autism-caregivers compared to other caregivers. This calls for increased support to autism-caregivers. Funding Lifelines has been funded by the Dutch government.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva B. Warreman
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, LUMC Curium, Leiden University Medical Centre, Endegeesterstraatweg 27, Oegstgeest 2342 AK, the Netherlands
| | - Susan E. Lloyd
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., New York, United States
| | - Laura A. Nooteboom
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, LUMC Curium, Leiden University Medical Centre, Endegeesterstraatweg 27, Oegstgeest 2342 AK, the Netherlands
| | - Pieter J.M. Leenen
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, PO Box 2040, Rotterdam 3000 CA, the Netherlands
| | - Mary Beth Terry
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., New York, United States
| | - Hans W. Hoek
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., New York, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen 9713 GZ, the Netherlands
- Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Youz, Kiwistraat 43, The Hague 2552 DH, the Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth F.C. van Rossum
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Centre, PO Box 2040, Rotterdam 3000 CA, the Netherlands
| | - Robert R.J.M. Vermeiren
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, LUMC Curium, Leiden University Medical Centre, Endegeesterstraatweg 27, Oegstgeest 2342 AK, the Netherlands
- Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Youz, Kiwistraat 43, The Hague 2552 DH, the Netherlands
| | - Wietske A. Ester
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, LUMC Curium, Leiden University Medical Centre, Endegeesterstraatweg 27, Oegstgeest 2342 AK, the Netherlands
- Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Youz, Kiwistraat 43, The Hague 2552 DH, the Netherlands
- Sarr Autism Rotterdam, Youz Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dynamostraat 18, Rotterdam 3083 AK, the Netherlands
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Riccio A, Kapp SK, Daou N, Shane J, Gillespie-Lynch K. What are Replicable Aspects of the Broader Autism Phenotype among College Students? COLLABRA: PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1525/collabra.271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Are people with heightened autistic traits less likely to help other people? Recent research suggests that heightened autistic traits are associated with reduced self-reported prosocial behavior among college students. However, the growing literature examining sub-clinical traits associated with autism, or the Broader Autism Phenotype (BAP), among college students has invested insufficient attention in replication of findings, potential interrelationships between constructs, or the degree to which social desirability bias may contribute to findings. To identify replicable aspects of the BAP, we administered a battery of measures to 391 undergraduate students. Replicating prior work, findings suggested that self-reported difficulties understanding the self and others (but not less feeling for others) and sensory atypicalities are core aspects of the BAP. Reduced social desirability bias was also associated with the BAP. Prior associations between reduced prosocial tendencies and the BAP were not replicated. Findings highlight the importance of assessing multiple potential aspects of the BAP, particularly reduced susceptibility to the social desirability bias, when using self-report measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariana Riccio
- Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, NY, US
| | - Steven K. Kapp
- Egenis, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK
| | - Nidal Daou
- Department of Psychology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LB
- Department of Psychology, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA, US
| | - Jacob Shane
- Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, NY, US
- Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College, CUNY, Brooklyn, NY, US
| | - Kristen Gillespie-Lynch
- Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, NY, US
- Department of Psychology, College of Staten Island, CUNY, Staten Island, NY, US
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Papp LM, Hartley SL. Mothers' and Fathers' Prescription Drug Misuse in Family Contexts: Implications for the Adjustment of Parents of Children With and Without Autism. ADDICTION RESEARCH & THEORY 2017; 26:267-274. [PMID: 30853876 PMCID: PMC6407890 DOI: 10.1080/16066359.2017.1351552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Although prescription drug misuse is an identified risk factor for individuals' outcomes, less is known about its occurrence in and implications for families. To address this limitation, we examined whether mothers' and fathers' prescription drug misuse is associated with the adjustment of parents, including those with a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and those without. Mothers and fathers from families with a child with ASD (n = 178) and comparison families without a child with ASD (n = 174) completed surveys of past-year prescription drug misuse and their personal and relationship adjustment. In total, 7.7% (N = 27) of mothers and 8.2% (N = 29) of fathers reported recent prescription drug misuse. There was significant interdependence between mothers' and fathers' recent prescription drug misuse in families with a child with ASD but not in comparison families. Actor-partner interdependence modeling was used to examine associations between parents' prescription drug misuse and their own and their partner's adjustment, controlling for medical use of prescription drugs and demographic covariates. Across family diagnosis statuses, mothers' prescription drug misuse predicted higher levels of their own alcohol problems, whereas fathers' prescription drug misuse related only to mothers' poorer sleep quality. Moreover, mothers' prescription drug misuse was associated with higher levels of their own depression symptoms in ASD-status (but not in comparison) families. Understanding parents' prescription drug misuse and its effects on family members is critical for informing future research and prevention and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Papp
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Sigan L Hartley
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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