Adjustment Problems among Mothers of Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

The present study compared adjustment problems in mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with mothers having normal children. 132 mothers (122 mother from main study and 10 mothers from pilot study) of children with ASD (Clinical group, n=66) and mothers with normal children (Normal group, n= 66) were included in study. Mothers of ASD children were recruited from six different institutions for mentally challenged children. Mothers of normal children were taken from six mainstream schools. Data was collected by administering a Demographic Questionnaire, Bell's Adjustment Inventory and Self Report Questionnaires. ACross Sectional Research Design was used. Descriptive statistics, Independent sample t–test was used to analyze the data. Results showed that mothers of children with ASD reported greater Emotional Adjustment Problems, Health Adjustment Problems, and Social Adjustment Problems as compared to normal group. Conversely, there was no difference in mothers on Home Adjustment. These findings have implications for intervention with mothers of children with ASD. Future studies need to focus on maternal counseling that would help in decreasing their adjustment difficulties.