One in Three Parents Raising Children with Autism Faces Mental Health Issues

According to a recent study, one out of three parents raising children with autism spectrum disorder experiences clinically significant mental health issues-a rate more than three times higher than the prevalence of mental disorders among the general adult population in Korea.

Bundang Seoul National University Hospital announced on the 16th that the research team led by Professor Heejung Yoo from the Department of Psychiatry published these findings in the journal "Autism and Developmental Disorders."

Types and Proportions of Major Mental Disorders Experienced by Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Bundang Seoul National University Hospital

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Autism spectrum disorder is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by restricted and repetitive behaviors or difficulties in communication and social interaction. Recent research has suggested that autism spectrum disorder is not just an individual condition but can also be shared within a family community, raising the possibility that the stress experienced by parents may be linked to their own neurodevelopmental traits.

The research team conducted a study to investigate the close association between parental characteristics and mental health issues, rather than attributing these problems solely to the characteristics of children with autism. In-depth interviews and psychological assessments were conducted with 232 children with autism spectrum disorder and their 464 parents. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to analyze the parents' mental health symptoms.

According to the analysis, 29.1% of the parents who participated in the study experienced clinically significant mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sleep problems. This is more than three times higher than the 8.5% prevalence rate among the general adult population, as reported by the 2021 National Health Survey.

The study also found that the main source of stress for parents of children with autism did not originate from the behavioral problems of the children, but rather from the parents' own broad autistic traits, which are biologically inherent. While there was a strong association between the parents' mental health and the children's autistic behaviors, the impact of the children's behaviors was significantly reduced when the variable of the parents' broad autistic traits was included. In fact, the parents' broad autistic traits were found to have the greatest influence on their mental health. This finding contrasts with previous assumptions that the primary source of stress for parents raising children with autism is the children's symptomatic behaviors.

Broad autistic traits refer to neurodevelopmental characteristics commonly shared within families, such as: ▲ low interest in social interaction and a preference for individual activities ▲ preference for consistent routines over change ▲ difficulties in understanding conversational context or using socially appropriate language. Notably, in this study, difficulties with pragmatic communication showed the strongest correlation with mental health issues. The research team explained that parents with these characteristics may find it relatively difficult to interpret nonverbal cues or consider various conversational contexts in interactions with their autistic children, making them more vulnerable to stress.

The prevalence of mental health issues also differed by gender. The rate was 22.8% for men and 35.3% for women, indicating that mothers were more vulnerable. Mothers showed higher prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, while fathers had a higher prevalence of addiction-related issues.

The sources of stress also varied by gender. Fathers primarily experienced stress due to externalizing behaviors in children, such as aggression or impulsivity, while mothers experienced greater stress related to psychological problems, such as depression or emotional regulation difficulties in their children. The research team explained that this is because fathers tend to manage their children's behavioral problems, whereas mothers are more often responsible for addressing their children's emotional needs and providing emotional stability.

Professor Yoo stated, "Up until now, the mental health and quality of life of parents have been largely overlooked in autism spectrum disorder-related policies and support plans. As the psychological well-being of parents is crucial for the emotional and behavioral development of children, support plans for autism spectrum disorder must be implemented at the family level."

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