Predictors of the health-related quality of life in preschool children with Autism spectrum disorders

• Published in: Research in autism spectrum disorders 2014-09, Vol.8 (9), p.1062-1070
• Main Authors: Chuang, I-Ching, Tseng, Mei-Hui, Lu, Lu, Shieh, Jeng-Yi, Cermak, Sharon A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Caregiver's mental health; Health-related quality of life; Parenting stress; Preschool children with Autism spectrum disorders
• ISSN: 1750-9467; 1878-0237
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2014.05.015

•Predictors of HRQOL in preschool children with ASD encompassed child and caregiver characteristics.•Parenting stress and parents’ mental health were associated with child's HRQOL.•Good HRQOL in children with ASD was at the expense of the caregiver's mental well-being.•Internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors affected HRQOL of children with ASD.•Temperament characteristics had a pervasive influence on HRQOL. This study was aimed to identify the predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) by considering the caregiver's characteristics such as mental health and parenting stress as well as child characteristics in preschool children with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A total of 106 children aged 36–70 months participated in this study. The study indicated that the predictors of HRQOL in children with ASD encompassed not only child but also caregiver characteristics. In particular, good HRQOL on the domains of social and emotional functioning in children with ASD depended upon the caregiver's mental well-being. In summary, the present findings highlight the need for assessment of caregivers’ parenting stress and their mental status as well as the predictors of HRQOL in children with ASD. Furthermore, the findings of the study could serve as a guide for clinicians to target at the predictors when providing assessment and intervention for children with ASD to improve their HRQOL.