Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels in Family Caregivers of Children with or without ASD Diagnosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disorder of neurodevelopment. Family caregivers of children diagnosed whit ASD might have high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, when they are compared whit family of children without ASD, with possibility of intensification given the COVID-19. The aim was to compare the levels of depression, anxiety and stress in family caregivers of children whit or without diagnoses of ASD, during the social isolation, and to analyze the impacts of the pandemic from sociodemographic variables on caregivers in general. 77 family caregivers of children with aged between five and eight years participated in this study (M = 6,06, SD = 1,27). Of these, 42 belonging to the group of caregivers of children diagnosed with ASD, aged between 20 and 56 (M = 36,9; SD = 8,36), and 35 to the other group, aged between 19 and 47 years (M = 34,8 SD = 8,47). The results indicated a difference between the group of caregivers of children with diagnosis (M = 19; SD = 11,12) and that of family of children without diagnosis (M = 12,8; SD = 10,7) in the relation to depression. Sociodemographic variables were related to the difficulties faced by family members and are discussed along with limitations and future studies.