New approaches in education and health sciences management

New approaches in education and health sciences management

Epidemiology of Mental Health of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum in Karaj

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
leila Saghayan 1
Mahboobeh Dargahi Zaboli 2
1 M.A. in Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Islamic Azad University, Electronic Branch, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology Education and Counseling, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/edus.2026.586536.1112
Abstract
Introduction: Limited epidemiological research has been conducted on the mental health of parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of mental health problems among parents of children with ASD in Karaj, Iran.
Methods: This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The statistical population consisted of parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Karaj, Iran, in 2024. A total of 164 participants were selected through purposive non-probability sampling from an autism center and a specialized autism school in Karaj. Data were collected using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-71 (MMPI-71) and the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ, 1972). The collected data were analyzed using the Chi-square (χ²) test and the Phi (φ) correlation coefficient in SPSS software version 26.
Results: The findings indicated that approximately two-thirds of parents of children with ASD experienced mental health problems, with a higher prevalence among mothers than fathers. No significant relationship was found between the gender of the child with ASD and the mental health status of either parent. The association between parental mental health problems and the comorbidity of ASD with other neurodevelopmental disorders was also examined. Results revealed that poor mental health among both mothers and fathers was significantly associated with the presence of comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders in their children. Furthermore, no cases of hypochondriasis, hysteria, schizophrenia, or mania were identified among either mothers or fathers. However, depression was found to be the most prevalent psychological disorder among parents. The results also demonstrated that parental age, occupational characteristics, and the gender of the child with ASD were not associated with parental mental health problems. In contrast, parental educational level and family income significantly influenced the occurrence of mental health problems. Additionally, the findings showed that the General Health Questionnaire identified a greater number of parents with mental health problems compared to the MMPI-71.
Conclusion: Overall, the findings suggest that parents of children with ASD, particularly mothers, are at increased risk of mental health problems due to the challenges associated with raising these children, including greater caregiving responsibilities, increased financial burden, and insufficient social support. Therefore, targeted support services and interventions are needed to reduce parental stress and improve their psychological well-being.
Keywords
Psychological disorders
Mental health
Autism spectrum disorder
Parents of children with autism
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New approaches in education and health sciences management
Volume 3, Issue 2
July 2026
Summer 2026
Pages 29-48

  • Receive Date 03 March 2026
  • Revise Date 19 April 2026
  • Accept Date 16 May 2026