Towards the identification of psychological distress among parents of children with autism in the Cameroonian context
Keywords:
Psychological distress, Parents, Autism, Depression, Resources, Stress.Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential deterioration in the mental health status of parents of children with autism in the city of Douala.
Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in 8 centers for children with special needs in the city of Douala. The variables studied were socio-demographic data and mental health status. Mental health was assessed using 5 tests. Data were analyzed
using SPSS software and the scoring grid for each test.
Results: Fifty-two participants were recruited, predominantly women (sex ratio = 0.36). The participants had a low perception of their ability to cope with stress (96.2%). Definite anxiety symptoms were present (26.9%). Depression was definitely present (19.2%).
The men had a high level of emotional maladjustment (57.1%) and a low level of adaptive resources (14.3%). Women had a high level of emotional maladjustment (26.3%) and a high level of adaptive resources (2.9%). Participants had post traumatic stress disorder
(38.5%) and parental burnout (26.9%). Men were more vulnerable than women.
Conclusion: It emerges that being the parent of an autistic child is associated with a variety of difficulties, the experience of which gives rise to veiled suffering.
