Impact of Caregiver Burden on Quality of Life and Psychiatric Symptoms in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to examine caregiver burden and its relationships with quality of life (QoL), depressive symptoms, and anxiety among mothers who were primary caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Method: This cross-sectional study included mothers of 60 children aged 4–10 years with ASD who were followed at a tertiary care Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic. Autism severity was assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Mothers completed a sociodemographic form, the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview, the World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Group comparisons were conducted by ASD severity. Associations were evaluated with Spearman correlation, and multivariable linear regression models were used to determine independent predictors of QoL domains.Results: High or very high caregiver burden was observed in 63.3% of mothers, and >80% reported low to moderate QoL across all domains. Caregiver burden correlated positively with depression (p