Pathways to mental health-related quality of life for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: roles of parental stress, children’s performance, medical support, and neighbor support

Background and aims There is a paucity of literature investigating health-related quality of life in neurodevelopmental populations including children with developmental language disorders and children with autism spectrum disorder. Health-related quality of life in these two groups remains poorly understood. Furthermore, studies have typically relied on reports from caregivers and teachers rather than using self-report measures. The aim of the current study is to compare the levels and profiles of self-reported health-related quality of life of children with developmental language disorders and children with autism spectrum disorder. Methods Participants comprised 114 7-to-13-year-old children with developmental language disorders ( n = 63) and children with autism spectrum disorder ( n = 51) attending mainstream school. Self-reported health-related quality of life was measured using the KIDSCREEN-52. We also collected standardised measures of receptive language, autism spectrum disorder symptoms, nonverbal IQ and emotional and behavioural problems. Results Children with developmental language disorders reported health-related quality of life commensurate with normative ranges, except for 2 of the 10 dimensions; the Moods and Emotions domain and the Social acceptance/bullying domain, which were below norms. Children with autism spectrum disorder reported significantly lower health-related quality of life compared to norms and the developmental language disorders group. However, when the effects of non-verbal ability and language – on which the groups were not matched – were covaried most group differences fell to non-significance or disappeared. Child characteristics showed few associations with dimensions of health-related quality of life across groups. Conclusions Children with autism spectrum disorder may be particularly vulnerable to poorer health-related quality of life and the relevant professionals need to be aware of this. Children with developmental language disorders exhibit a profile of health-related quality of life more in-line with average ranges. However, certain domains warrant monitoring and may benefit from intervention. Many of the between-group differences in self-reported health-related quality of life disappeared when non-verbal and language ability were covaried, though neither of the covariates was systematically related to scores. Other within-child factors such as emotional understanding and competence should be explored in future studies. Implications Further research into child and contextual factors may elucidate risk or protective factors for health-related quality of life in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

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Health- and oral health-related quality of life among preschool children with autism spectrum disorders

European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry ◽

10.1007/s40368-019-00500-1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 363-371 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

R. Y. Du ◽

C. K. Y. Yiu ◽

N. M. King

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽

Oral Health ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

Spectrum Disorders

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Measuring the impact of feeding covariates on health-related quality of life in children with autism spectrum disorder

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.rasd.2014.11.009 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. 124-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bekir Fatih Meral ◽

Ahmet Fidan

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

The Impact

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Associations of quality of life with health-related characteristics among children with autism

Autism ◽

10.1177/1362361317704420 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 804-813 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Karen A Kuhlthau ◽

Erin McDonnell ◽

Dan L Coury ◽

Nalin Payakachat ◽

Eric Macklin

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Child Behavior Checklist ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Sleep Habits ◽

Gastrointestinal Problems ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

We examine whether behavioral, mental health, and physical health characteristics of children with autism are associated with baseline and change in health-related quality of life. We measured health-related quality of life with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 total scores from children enrolled in the Autism Treatment Network. We used linear mixed model regressions with random slopes. Predictors of lower health-related quality of life at baseline included demographic and insurance characteristics, diagnosis, higher Child Behavior Checklist internalizing and externalizing scores, sleep problems by Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire, seizures, gastrointestinal problems, and mental health problems. Several characteristics had different associations over time. This study demonstrates that in addition to behavioral and autism-related characteristics, physical and mental health conditions are associated with health-related quality of life in children with autism.

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