[Quality of life of parents of children with autism spectrum disorders].
OBJECTIVE To establish a correlation between the severity of clinical symptoms in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and the quality of life experienced by their parents, and identify potential targets for effective interventions in care. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included a sample of 40 parents of children diagnosed with ASD and 37 parents of neurotypical children. The clinical and psychometric evaluation of the children with ASD was conducted using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Additionally, the Quality of Life in Autism Questionnaire (QoLA) was used to assess parents' quality of life. Statistical analyses were performed using MS Excel and STATISTICA software, employing nonparametric methods. RESULTS The psychometric assessment using the CARS scale yielded an average score of 22.6±5.8 for the examined children, indicating a mild autism classification. The total QoLA score for parents of children with ASD was 132.6±25.8 points, compared with 171.8±23.6 points for parents of neurotypical children (p<0.001). The quality of life of parents, as assessed by Part B of the QoLA scale, was found to be correlated with the severity of ASD as measured by the CARS scale (p<0.05). The primary symptoms identified that negatively impacted the quality of life of parents included the social impairments associated with autism, challenges in collaborative engagement, a lack of comprehension regarding social rules and roles, alongside communication disorders (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight potential targets for social and therapeutic interventions with families, which may alleviate parental distress and enhance the quality of life for parents of children diagnosed with ASD.