Volume 15, Issue 12 pp. 2346-2358

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Mental health issues in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: A multi-time-point study related to COVID-19 pandemic

Luxi Wang,

Luxi Wang

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

Continuing Education Office, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

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Huiying Zhang,

Huiying Zhang

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

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Chuang Shang,

Chuang Shang

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

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Huirong Liang,

Huirong Liang

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

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Wenlong Liu,

Wenlong Liu

Department of Child Development and Behavior, Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China

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Bing Han,

Bing Han

Continuing Education Office, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

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Wei Xia,

Wei Xia

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

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Mingyang Zou,

Corresponding Author

Mingyang Zou

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0002-7521-2388

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

Correspondence

Mingyang Zou and Caihong Sun, Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

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Caihong Sun,

Corresponding Author

Caihong Sun

[email protected]

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

Correspondence

Mingyang Zou and Caihong Sun, Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

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Luxi Wang,

Luxi Wang

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

Continuing Education Office, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

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Huiying Zhang,

Huiying Zhang

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

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Chuang Shang,

Chuang Shang

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

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Huirong Liang,

Huirong Liang

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

Search for more papers by this author

Wenlong Liu,

Wenlong Liu

Department of Child Development and Behavior, Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China

Search for more papers by this author

Bing Han,

Bing Han

Continuing Education Office, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

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Wei Xia,

Wei Xia

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

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Mingyang Zou,

Corresponding Author

Mingyang Zou

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0002-7521-2388

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

Correspondence

Mingyang Zou and Caihong Sun, Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author

Caihong Sun,

Corresponding Author

Caihong Sun

[email protected]

Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

Correspondence

Mingyang Zou and Caihong Sun, Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

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First published: 20 October 2022

https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2836

Citations: 3

Luxi Wang and Huiying Zhang should be considered joint first authors.

Funding information: Innovation and Practical Project for Graduate Student of Harbin Medical University; YJSCX2020-71HYD

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Abstract

Given the unpredictability and challenges brought about by the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this study aimed to investigate the impact trend of the prolonged pandemic on the mental health of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The 8112 participants included parents of children with ASD and parents of typically developing (TD) children at two sites (Heilongjiang and Fujian province, China). The parents completed a set of self-report questionnaires covering demographic characteristics, influences related to COVID-19, COVID-19 concerns and perceived behaviors, as well as the Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS) by means of an online survey platform. Data were collected by three cross-sectional surveys carried out in April 2020 (Time 1), October 2020 (Time 2), and October 2021 (Time 3). The results of quantitative and qualitative comparisons showed that: (i) parents of children with ASD had lower levels of resilience, and more symptoms of anxiety and depression than parents of TD children at each time point (all P < 0.05); and (ii) there were significant time-cumulative changes in resilience, anxiety, and depression among all participants (all P < 0.05). The logistic regression analyzes after adjusting for demographic characteristics revealed that the following factors were significantly associated with poor resilience and a higher rate of anxiety and depression in parents of children with ASD: time-point, the effect of COVID-19 on children's emotions and parents' emotions, changes in relationships, changes in physical exercise, changes in daily diet during the COVID-19 pandemic, and COVID-19-related psychological distress. In conclusions, the parents did not report improvements in resilience, anxiety, or depression symptoms from Time 1 to Time 2 or 3, indicating that cumulative mental health issues increased when, surprisingly, the COVID-19 restrictions were eased. The psychological harm resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic is far-reaching, especially among parents of children with ASD.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Open Research

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The dataset used during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Supporting Information

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Volume15, Issue12

December 2022

Pages 2346-2358

Mental health issues in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: A multi-time-point study related to COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Open Research

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Supporting Information

REFERENCES

Citing Literature

References

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Mental health issues in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: A multi-time-point study related to COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Open Research

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Supporting Information

REFERENCES

Citing Literature

References

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