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Abdelaziz EM, Alsadaan N, Alqahtani M, Elsharkawy NB, Ouda MMA, Ramadan OME, Shaban M, Shokre ES. Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on Psychological Distress among Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Problem-Solving Appraisal. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:46. [PMID: 38247698 PMCID: PMC10813282 DOI: 10.3390/bs14010046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face considerable psychological distress. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has shown promise in reducing caregiver burden, but evidence in the Arab world is lacking. Problem-solving appraisal training may optimize CBT's benefits. This study evaluated a tailored CBT program emphasizing the role of problem-solving appraisal in managing distress through the process of CBT. Sixty mothers were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the CBT intervention group or the control group. The CBT group received 3-month sessions incorporating problem-solving appraisal training within a CBT curriculum from October 2022 to April 2023. Problem-solving techniques are focused on equipping individuals with the skills to identify, approach, and effectively resolve problems, leading to a reduction in stress levels and an improved capacity to cope with difficult situations. All mothers completed assessments of socio-demographics such as age, level of education, marital status, occupation, and adequacy of family income, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI) before and after the program. The CBT group showed significant pre-to-post reductions in depression, anxiety, stress, and general psychological distress compared to controls (all p < 0.05). They also exhibited significant improvements in problem-solving confidence, approach-avoidance style and personal control (all p < 0.05). The customized CBT program markedly improved psychological well-being for mothers of children with ASD in Egypt. Incorporating problem-solving techniques may optimize CBT's benefits cross-culturally. These findings have implications for the implementation of evidence-based support programs for families impacted by ASD worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enas Mahrous Abdelaziz
- College of Nursing, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia; (E.M.A.); (N.B.E.); (M.M.A.O.); (O.M.E.R.); (M.S.)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Nourah Alsadaan
- College of Nursing, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia; (E.M.A.); (N.B.E.); (M.M.A.O.); (O.M.E.R.); (M.S.)
| | - Mohammed Alqahtani
- Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf 31982, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Nadia Bassuoni Elsharkawy
- College of Nursing, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia; (E.M.A.); (N.B.E.); (M.M.A.O.); (O.M.E.R.); (M.S.)
- Maternal and Newborn Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Marwa Mohamed Ahmed Ouda
- College of Nursing, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia; (E.M.A.); (N.B.E.); (M.M.A.O.); (O.M.E.R.); (M.S.)
- Pediatric Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Damanhur University, Damanhur 22516, Egypt
| | - Osama Mohamed Elsayed Ramadan
- College of Nursing, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia; (E.M.A.); (N.B.E.); (M.M.A.O.); (O.M.E.R.); (M.S.)
- Pediatric Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Mostafa Shaban
- College of Nursing, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia; (E.M.A.); (N.B.E.); (M.M.A.O.); (O.M.E.R.); (M.S.)
- Geriatric Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Evon S. Shokre
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Fayum University, Fayum 63514, Egypt;
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Lievore R, Lanfranchi S, Mammarella IC. Parenting stress in autism: do children's characteristics still count more than stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic? CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023:1-11. [PMID: 37359637 PMCID: PMC10014138 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-023-04441-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience higher levels of stress than parents of typically-developing (TD) children, due to differences in their children's emotional functioning. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the cognitive and practical demands on vulnerable populations and their families. The aim of this study was to examine parenting stress levels in parents of children ASD and TD children, considering the children's emotional functioning (i.e., anxiety and cognitive emotion regulation strategies), and stressful life events deriving from the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved 64 parent-child dyads comprising children from 7 to 16 years old, divided into two groups: 32 (26 M) children and adolescents with ASD but no intellectual disability, and 32 (26 M) with typical development. Our results show that parents of children with ASD reported higher levels of stress, but factors relating to the child and the context had a different influence on parenting stress in the ASD and TD groups. The higher level of parenting stress in the ASD group seemed to relate more to the children's emotional characteristics, while the TD group was more affected by the unpredictable stressful events prompted by COVID-19. Families' mental health should be considered a core aspect of supporting parents having to deal with both their child's emotional adjustment and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachele Lievore
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, Padova, 35131 Italy
| | - Silvia Lanfranchi
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, Padova, 35131 Italy
| | - Irene C. Mammarella
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, Padova, 35131 Italy
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Charalampopoulou M, Choi EJ, Korczak DJ, Cost KT, Crosbie J, Birken CS, Charach A, Monga S, Kelley E, Nicolson R, Georgiades S, Ayub M, Schachar RJ, Iaboni A, Anagnostou E. Les profils de santé mentale des enfants et adolescents autistes pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. Paediatr Child Health 2022; 27:S143-S150. [PMID: 36092298 PMCID: PMC9455656 DOI: 10.1093/pch/pxac016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectifs Les confinements dans les provinces canadiennes ont malmené la santé mentale des enfants pendant la pandémie de COVID-19, et les enfants autistes y ont été particulièrement vulnérables. La présente étude visait à recenser les sous-groupes d’enfants autistes ayant des profils distincts de modification à leur santé mentale, afin de comprendre les facteurs propres aux enfants, aux parents et au système qui y sont associés et d’éclairer de futures interventions. Méthodologie Les chercheurs ont extrait les données d’une vaste cohorte ontarienne (n=1 570), dont faisaient partie 265 enfants autistes (âge moyen=10,9 ans, 76 % de sexe masculin). Ils ont utilisé l’analyse des nuées dynamiques pour répartir les profils de santé mentale distincts en six mesures (humeur, anxiété, symptômes de trouble obsessionnel-compulsif, irritabilité, inattention, hyperactivité) et ont examiné les différences entre les groupes. Ils ont également étudié les caractéristiques des enfants qui ont accédé à des services aigus en santé mentale. Résultats Le nombre optimal de grappes était fixé à deux. La première incluait ceux qui avaient éprouvé une détérioration de leur santé mentale dans les six mesures (61,3 %, intervalle de confiance à 95 %=54,9 à 67,4) et la seconde, les jeunes dont la santé mentale n’avait pas changé (38,7 %, intervalle de confiance à 95 %=32,6 à 45,1). Des facteurs étaient associés à la détérioration de la santé mentale des enfants : plus de symptômes internalisés préexistants et de forts taux de stress liés à la COVID-19. Les problèmes de santé mentale des parents et les facteurs propres aux systèmes, tels que la perte de soutien à l’apprentissage, l’accès aux médecins et les difficultés matérielles, étaient aussi liés à cette détérioration. L’accès à des services aigus en santé mentale découlait d’abord de l’insécurité financière et de la perte de services. Conclusions Plus de la moitié des enfants autistes ont éprouvé une détérioration de leur santé mentale, et les caractéristiques individuelles (troubles de santé mentale préexistants, stress lié à la COVID-19), parentales (santé mentale des parents) et systémiques (perte de services et difficultés matérielles) y étaient reliées, ce qui ouvrait la voie à des interventions cliniques et politiques multiniveaux.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eun Jung Choi
- Holland Bloorview Research Institute, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
| | - Daphne J Korczak
- Département de psychiatrie, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
- Département de psychiatrie, faculté de médecine Temerty, Universitéde Toronto, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
| | - Katherine T Cost
- Département de psychiatrie, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
| | - Jennifer Crosbie
- Département de psychiatrie, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
- Département de psychiatrie, faculté de médecine Temerty, Universitéde Toronto, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
| | - Catherine S Birken
- Département de pédiatrie, faculté de médecine, Université de Toronto, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
- Sciences évaluatives de la santé des enfants, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
| | - Alice Charach
- Département de psychiatrie, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
- Département de psychiatrie, faculté de médecine Temerty, Universitéde Toronto, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
- Sciences évaluatives de la santé des enfants, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
- Institut des politiques, de la gestion et de l’évaluation de la santé, faculté de médecine Temerty, Université de Toronto, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
| | - Suneeta Monga
- Département de psychiatrie, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
- Département de psychiatrie, faculté de médecine Temerty, Universitéde Toronto, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
| | - Elizabeth Kelley
- Département de psychologie, Université Queen’s, Kingston (Ontario)Canada
- Département de psychiatrie, Université Queen’s, Kingston (Ontario)Canada
| | - Rob Nicolson
- Département de psychiatrie, Université Western, London (Ontario)Canada
| | - Stelios Georgiades
- Département de psychiatrie et de neurosciences comportementales, Université McMaster, Hamilton (Ontario)Canada
| | - Muhammad Ayub
- Département de psychiatrie, Université Queen’s, Kingston (Ontario)Canada
| | - Russell J Schachar
- Département de psychiatrie, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
- Département de psychiatrie, faculté de médecine Temerty, Universitéde Toronto, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
| | - Alana Iaboni
- Holland Bloorview Research Institute, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
| | - Evdokia Anagnostou
- Holland Bloorview Research Institute, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
- Département de pédiatrie, faculté de médecine, Université de Toronto, Toronto (Ontario)Canada
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Charalampopoulou M, Choi EJ, Korczak DJ, Cost KT, Crosbie J, Birken CS, Charach A, Monga S, Kelley E, Nicolson R, Georgiades S, Ayub M, Schachar RJ, Iaboni A, Anagnostou E. Mental health profiles of autistic children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paediatr Child Health 2022; 27:S59-S65. [PMID: 35615409 PMCID: PMC9126276 DOI: 10.1093/pch/pxab111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Canadian province-wide lockdowns have challenged children's mental health (MH) during the COVID-19 pandemic, with autistic children being at particular risk. The purpose of our study was to identify sub-groups of autistic children with distinct mental health change profiles, to understand the child-, parent-, and system-specific factors associated with such profiles in order to ultimately inform future interventions. Methods Data were drawn from a large Canadian cohort (N=1,570) across Ontario, resulting in 265 autistic children (mean age=10.9 years, 76% male). K-means clustering analyses were employed to partition distinct MH profiles in six MH measures (mood, anxiety, OCD symptoms, irritability, inattention, hyperactivity) and group differences were examined with reference to the above factors. Additionally, we investigated the characteristics of children who accessed acute MH services. Results The optimal number of clusters was two; one included those experiencing MH deterioration across all six MH measures (61.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI]=54.9 to 67.4), and a second included youth that did not experience MH changes (38.7%, 95%CI=32.6 to 45.1). Child-specific factors associated with MH deterioration included higher pre-existing internalizing symptoms, high levels of COVID stress. Parental MH challenges and system-specific factors, such as the loss of learning supports, access to physicians and material deprivation, were also associated with MH deterioration. Access to acute MH services were primarily associated with financial insecurity and loss of services. Conclusions More than half of autistic children experienced MH deterioration, and person-specific (pre-existing MH, COVID related stress), parent-specific (Parent MH) and system-level (loss of services and material deprivation) characteristics were associated with such decline, providing clinical and policy opportunities for intervention at multiple levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eun Jung Choi
- Holland Bloorview Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daphne J Korczak
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katherine T Cost
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer Crosbie
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Catherine S Birken
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute Hospital for Sick Children, Canada
| | - Alice Charach
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute Hospital for Sick Children, Canada.,Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Suneeta Monga
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Kelley
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rob Nicolson
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stelios Georgiades
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Muhammad Ayub
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Russell J Schachar
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alana Iaboni
- Holland Bloorview Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Evdokia Anagnostou
- Holland Bloorview Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Li F, Xu M, Wu D, Tang Y, Zhang L, Liu X, Zhou L, Li F, Jiang L. From child social impairment to parenting stress in mothers of children with ASD: The role of parental self-efficacy and social support. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1005748. [PMID: 36147986 PMCID: PMC9485583 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1005748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can exhibit persistent deficits in social communication, causing their mothers to experience elevated parenting stress during the childrearing process. Some internal and external psychosocial resources may mediate or moderate the mother-child relationship, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the predictors of parenting stress in mothers of children with ASD and elucidate the mechanisms underlying the relationship between child social impairment and parenting stress. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2020 and March 2022 in Shanghai, China. Mothers of children with ASD completed a survey investigating child social impairment, parenting stress, parental self-efficacy, and social support. RESULTS A total of 185 mothers of children with ASD were included in the final analysis. 70.27 percent of mothers experienced a clinically significant level of parenting stress. Child social impairment (r = 0.46, P < 0.001), parental self-efficacy (r = -0.58, P < 0.001), and social support (r = -0.35, P < 0.001) were significantly correlated with parenting stress. Parental self-efficacy completely mediated the relationship between child social impairment and parenting stress (B = 0.51, P < 0.001), after controlling for socioeconomic status (SES) correlated with parenting stress. There was no significant moderating effect of social support between child social impairment and parenting stress (B = 0.01, P = 0.09). CONCLUSION Future early intervention programs that focused on child's social communication skills and empowered mothers with related strategies through group-based parent training programs may help reduce parenting stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fēi Li
- Department of Nursing, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyu Xu
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Danping Wu
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Tang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Faculty of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
| | - Lingli Zhang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, University of Liege, Liège, Belgium
| | - Fei Li
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liping Jiang
- Department of Nursing, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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