Stress and anxiety for parents of kids with autism in NZ

Publicly released:
New Zealand
Credit: Steven Van Loy/Unsplash
Credit: Steven Van Loy/Unsplash

New research from AUT suggests that most parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience serious mental health issues linked to stress. The team surveyed a group of over 650 parents living in New Zealand, and found that the majority of parents reported clinical levels of distress, particularly anxiety. More severe ASD symptoms among children were linked to higher levels of stress and mental health problems for the parents, which could in turn impact their child's symptoms and behaviours. The authors say that more holistic support is needed for Kiwi families, including help for dealing with stress.

Attachments

Note: Not all attachments are visible to the general public. Research URLs will go live after the embargo ends.

Research Elsevier, Web page
Journal/
conference:
Research in Developmental Disabilities
Research:Paper
Organisation/s: AUT University
Funder: No funding specified.
Media Contact/s
Contact details are only visible to registered journalists.