141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

285948
Parenting stress and depression in diverse families with a child newly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 4:45 PM - 5:00 PM

Xena Grossman, MS, RD , Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Stephanie Blenner, MD , Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Ivys Fernandez, JD , Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Adriana Giron, BA , Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Andrea Medeiros, BA , Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Marilyn Augustyn, MD , Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Background: It has been reported that parents of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience a high prevalence of stress and depression immediately after diagnosis; however this has not been measured in a diverse low-income immigrant population.

Objective: To measure parenting stress and depression among diverse families of children newly diagnosed with ASD.

Methods: Families from an urban inner-city hospital were recruited within a month of their child's diagnosis with ASD to partake in a larger study. 116 parents completed the Parenting Stress Index short form (PSI), the QIDS (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology), and answered questions regarding demographics and housing stability.

Results: 54% of the sample was non-US born, 71% received public insurance and 20% reported that they were in unstable housing. Immediately after diagnosis, 16% of interviewed parents reported clinically significant levels of parenting stress (PSI &ge 90%ile) and 58% exhibited symptoms of depression (QIDS &ge 5). In univariate logistic regression, parents of children with lower adaptive functioning, based on ABAS composite scores, were significantly more likely to be depressed (p &lt 0.05); ABAS scores were not significantly associated with increased likelihood of clinically significant levels of parenting stress.

Conclusion: In a diverse low-income immigrant population, the incidence of parenting stress and depression in families of children newly diagnosed with ASD is high. Supporting diverse low-income minority families around an ASD diagnosis requires a multi-faceted service and support approach; especially for families with lower functioning children.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education

Learning Objectives:
Describe a unique diverse cohort of families with a child newly diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder Assess parenting stress and depression in diverse families immediately after a new diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluate the influence of ABAS composite scores on parenting stress and depression

Keywords: Children With Special Needs, Depression

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As an Instructor of Pediatrics and Research Coordinator at Boston Medical Center, I have seven years of experience designing and managing research studies with low income and minority subjects. The data in this abstract come from the following research study that I coordinate: Use of Family Navigators in Families with Children Newly Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.