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Time Demands of Caring for Children with Autism: What are the Implications for Maternal Mental Health?

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Abstract

This study examined the relationship between maternal mental health problems and both caregiving time and experience of time pressure for 216 mothers of children with autism. Data describing caregiving time was obtained using 24-h time-diaries. Standard questionnaires were used to assess time pressure, social support, children’s emotional and behavioural problems, and maternal mental health problems. After adjusting for the effect of children’s age, maternal social support, and children’s behaviour problems, time pressure but not hours of caregiving, had a significant positive relationship with maternal mental health problems. Findings suggest that the quality of home-based care for children with autism may be adversely affected if time pressure experienced by caregivers compromises their mental health and well being.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia. The authors wish to acknowledge the help of Marie Iannos, Jude Brown and Penny Cass in conducting the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Evaluation Unit, Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA, 5006, Australia

    Michael G. Sawyer & Taylor F. Harchak

  2. Department of Paediatrics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

    Michael G. Sawyer

  3. Department of Sociology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia

    Michael Bittman

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA

    Annette M. La Greca

  5. Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia, Magill, SA, Australia

    Angela D. Crettenden

  6. Autism SA, Marleston DC, SA, Australia

    Jon Martin

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  1. Michael G. Sawyer
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  2. Michael Bittman
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  3. Annette M. La Greca
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  4. Angela D. Crettenden
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  5. Taylor F. Harchak
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  6. Jon Martin
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Correspondence to Michael G. Sawyer.

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Sawyer, M.G., Bittman, M., La Greca, A.M. et al. Time Demands of Caring for Children with Autism: What are the Implications for Maternal Mental Health?. J Autism Dev Disord 40, 620–628 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0912-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0912-3

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