Mental health symptoms in mothers of childr en with autism spectrum disorder and its relation to maternal coping styles, sense of coherence, and assessment of the child’ s emotional, social, and behavioural functioning
 
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1
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce [Instytut Psychologii, Wydział Pedagogiki i Psychologii, Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach], Krakowska 11, 25-029 Kielce, Poland
 
2
Department of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 1st Faculty of Medicine with Dentistry Division, Medical University of Lublin [II Klinika Psychiatrii i Rehabilitacji Psychiatrycznej, I Wydział Lekarsko – Dentystyczny, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie], Gluska 1, 20-439 Lublin, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2021-11-07
 
 
Final revision date: 2021-12-12
 
 
Acceptance date: 2021-12-12
 
 
Publication date: 2021-12-31
 
 
Corresponding author
Justyna Świerczyńska   

Instytut Psychologii, Wydział Pedagogiki i Psychologii, Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach, Krakowska 11, 25-029 Kielce, Polska
 
 
Beata Pawłowska   

II Klinika Psychiatrii i Rehabilitacji Psychiatrycznej, I Wydział Lekarsko – Dentystyczny, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie, Głuska 1, 20-439 Lublin, Polska
 
 
Wychowanie w Rodzinie 2021;25(2):239-255
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Aim. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between mental health symptoms in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and maternal coping styles, sense of coherence, and mother-rated child’s emotional, social, and behavioural problems. Study group. The study included a group of 70 women raising children with a medical diagnosis of ASD. Methods. The following instruments were used in this study: An Inquiry Form designed by the present author, The General Health Questionnaire GHQ-28 by D. Goldberg, The Coping Inventory of Stressful Situations (CISS), by Endler and Parker, The Sense of Coherence Scale SOC-29 by Antonovsky, The Set of Questionnaires for the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASRS) by S. Goldstein and J. A. Naglieri, The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) by R. Goodman. Results. Based on the conducted study, it was found that there are statistically significant correlations between the increased symptoms of mental health disorders in the studied mothers of children with ASD, assessed with the GHQ-28 Questionnaire, and their preferred emotional and avoidance style of coping with stress, a low sense of coherence and, as observed by them in the child, increased symptoms of autism spectrum disorders measured with ASRS and increased symptoms of disorders assessed with SDQ. Conclusion. 1. There are significant relationships between the mother’s use of emotionfocused and avoidance coping styles and increased maternal mental health symptoms; 2. There are significant relationships between the mother’s low sense of coherence and increased maternal mental health symptoms; 3. Severe child ASD symptoms, as measured by ASRS, and emotional problems, as measured with SDQ, correlate significantly with severe maternal mental health symptoms.
 
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