Exploring Mental Health Status and Occupational Balance among Palestinian Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Cross Sectional Study رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Background: Caring for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) imposes substantial demands on families, particularly on mothers who often serve as primary caregivers. The responsibilities associated with caregiving can lead to significant mental and physical strain. However, research exploring the mental health status and occupational balance of Palestinian mothers in this context is limited. This dearth of empirical investigation highlights a critical knowledge gap, hindering a comprehensive understanding of the unique challenges faced by this specific population. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and occupational balance among Palestinian mothers who had children with ASD. Additionally, the study sought to identify the factors associated with these mental health outcomes and occupational balance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving a convenience sample of 94 Palestinian mothers residing in the northern region of Palestine. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ-11) were used as the main outcome measures. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. Results: The findings revealed that approximately 31.9% of the mothers reported an extreme level of depression, while 39.4% reported an extreme level of anxiety. Furthermore, 60.6% of the mothers reported experiencing occupational imbalance. Various factors associated with these mental health outcomes and occupational balance were identified as sociodemographic as mother age, social status, work status, mothers’ educational level, in addition to resilience, coping and illness perception. VI Conclusion: The study highlights the alarming rates of depression and anxiety among Palestinian mothers caring for children ASD, along with a significant proportion experiencing occupational imbalance. Sociodemographic factors and psychological variables, such as resilience, coping, and illness perception, were identified as associated factors. Urgent attention is needed to prioritize the mental well-being and occupational balance of these mothers. Targeted interventions should address identified factors to promote better mental health and occupational outcomes. The findings have implications beyond the Palestinian context, emphasizing the need for global research and interventions to support mothers in similar circumstances.