Factors Influencing Despair, Self-Blame, and Acceptance among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Malaysian Perspective
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| Title: | Factors Influencing Despair, Self-Blame, and Acceptance among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Malaysian Perspective |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Muhammad Hanif Abd Latif, Wan Salwina Wan Ismail (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2025 55(6):2067-2074. |
| Availability: | Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 8 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Depression (Psychology), Self Concept, Parent Attitudes, Children, Parent Child Relationship, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Foreign Countries, Clinical Diagnosis, Drug Therapy, Ethnicity, Emotional Response, Parent Background |
| Geographic Terms: | Malaysia |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10803-023-06155-8 |
| ISSN: | 0162-3257 1573-3432 |
| Abstract: | Purpose: Accepting and adapting to the child's diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be challenging for parents. We aimed to assess domains of parental adjustment namely despair, self-blame, and acceptance among parents whose children were diagnosed with ASD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 111 parents of children with autism who attended Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit (CAPU), in a university teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sociodemographic profiles of both parents and children were gathered. Parental adjustment focusing on parental self-blame, despair and acceptance were assessed using self-reported questionnaires namely Adjustment to the Diagnosis of Autism (ADA). Results: Higher level of despair was associated with parents who have medical illness ([beta] = 0.214, p = 0.016) and children who received antipsychotic medications ([beta] = 0.329, p < 0.001). Parents with tertiary education ([beta] = -0.207, p = 0.023) and those with autistic child attended school ([beta] = -0.200, p = 0.037) have lower level of despair. Parents with medical illness ([beta] = 0.245, p = 0.008), child receiving antipsychotic medications ([beta] = 0.251, p = 0.005), Chinese ethnicity ([beta] = 0.185, p = 0.04), and child's gender ([beta] = 0.283, p = 0.003) were significantly associated with higher level of self-blame. Lower acceptance was found among Chinese parents ([beta] = -0.264, p = 0.005) while married parents had higher acceptance levels ([beta] = 0.215, p = 0.022). Conclusion: Parental adjustment involving domains of despair, self-blame, and acceptance were significantly associated with ethnicity of parents, educational level, parents' marital status and medical illness, as well as the ASD children's schooling status and type of medications used. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1470819 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | Purpose: Accepting and adapting to the child's diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be challenging for parents. We aimed to assess domains of parental adjustment namely despair, self-blame, and acceptance among parents whose children were diagnosed with ASD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 111 parents of children with autism who attended Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit (CAPU), in a university teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sociodemographic profiles of both parents and children were gathered. Parental adjustment focusing on parental self-blame, despair and acceptance were assessed using self-reported questionnaires namely Adjustment to the Diagnosis of Autism (ADA). Results: Higher level of despair was associated with parents who have medical illness ([beta] = 0.214, p = 0.016) and children who received antipsychotic medications ([beta] = 0.329, p < 0.001). Parents with tertiary education ([beta] = -0.207, p = 0.023) and those with autistic child attended school ([beta] = -0.200, p = 0.037) have lower level of despair. Parents with medical illness ([beta] = 0.245, p = 0.008), child receiving antipsychotic medications ([beta] = 0.251, p = 0.005), Chinese ethnicity ([beta] = 0.185, p = 0.04), and child's gender ([beta] = 0.283, p = 0.003) were significantly associated with higher level of self-blame. Lower acceptance was found among Chinese parents ([beta] = -0.264, p = 0.005) while married parents had higher acceptance levels ([beta] = 0.215, p = 0.022). Conclusion: Parental adjustment involving domains of despair, self-blame, and acceptance were significantly associated with ethnicity of parents, educational level, parents' marital status and medical illness, as well as the ASD children's schooling status and type of medications used. |
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| ISSN: | 0162-3257 1573-3432 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10803-023-06155-8 |
