Reduced access to services for childen with autism is resulting in greater stress for their parents, according to preliminary data from research carried out at NUI Galway.
The findings of the study, conducted by the university’s Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN ), indicates cutbacks in services are having a “real and measureable effect” on parents’ wellbeing.
“Our research is highlighting the negative impacts that cutbacks and inadequate service provision may have, not only on child outcomes, but also on the health and wellbeing of the parents,” says Dr Geraldine Leader, the director of ICAN.
A group of 140 mothers, fathers and a control group of caregivers of typically-developing children were included in the study. The research, conducted by PhD student Ciara Foody under the supervision of Dr Geraldine Leader and Professor Jack James, will be presented at a conference in the college on Tuesday and Wednesday next.
The research investigated stress among parents by using diaries, questionnaires, 24 hour blood pressure monitoring and also conducted an analysis of the stress hormone cortisol.
“We looked for the physical flags of stress, such as high blood pressure”, explains Dr Leader. “Perhaps none too surprisingly, parents of children of autism experience elevated levels of stress compared to parents of typically developing children. However, we were also able to show a correlation between increased stress among parents of children with autism who have less access to services and interventions.”
Preliminary results demonstrate that unmet services needs were a significant factor. Having a child with a greater number of service needs that were not being met (speech and language therapy, respite services, etc ) was associated with higher maternal blood pressure and higher parental reports of depressive symptoms and parenting stress.
The study also shows that sleep is an important factor. Child sleep problems and parental sleep quality were associated with maternal blood pressure, parenting stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms.
The conference entitled “Autism Spectrum Disorders - From Research to Practice” will feature keynote talks as well as workshops aimed at providing parents, practitioners, teachers and researchers with the latest evidence-based approaches to diagnosis, clinical management and adult service provision.
The event is being organised by ICAN in collaboration with the US science and advocacy group Autism Speaks and runs from June 11 to 12. For further information log on to www.conference.ie
