Ansiedade e depressão em mães com filhos diagnosticados com trasntorno do espectro autista

Abstract

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by deficits in communication and social interaction in different contexts and can result in a major impact on parents' lives. Due to the impairment that the disorder can cause in the child, the family suffers an emotional and social upheaval and stress. All demands resulting from the necessary care of children with ASD can result in compromised maternal mental health. The objective of this research was to analyze the levels of anxiety and depression of mothers with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This is a prospective, quantitative study, with a descriptive and exploratory approach, with a sample of 153 mothers of children diagnosed with autism. The research data collection was carried out in a rehabilitation center, in the city of João Pessoa - PB, using three instruments for data collection: a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory II – BDI – II. The sample studied is mostly aged between 34 and 42 years old, higher education, is married or has a stable relationship, has an income of up to one minimum wage and is currently a housewife. According to the BAI and BDI-II instruments, 81% of the sample had some degree of anxiety and 53.6% had some degree of depression. No association was found between the time of ASD diagnosis and the child's level of support with the mother's levels of anxiety and depression. Therefore, the study shows a high prevalence of anxiety and depression in mothers with autistic children and reinforces the importance of data for possible therapeutic interventions that can preserve and/or improve the mental health of mothers.