Marital Relationship, Quality of Life, and Life Satisfaction for Saudi Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Research Article

Austin J Autism & Relat Disabil. 2023; 9(2): 1067.

Marital Relationship, Quality of Life, and Life Satisfaction for Saudi Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Ayah Moumenah¹*; Mamdouh Al Enazi²

¹Master of Clinical Psychology, College of Medicine, Al Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

²Consultant, Transplant Psychology/Neuropsychology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

*Corresponding author:Ayah Moumenah Master of Clinical Psychology, College of Medicine, Al Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Email: amoumenah@alfaisal.edu

Received: August 02, 2023 Accepted: August 18, 2023 Published: August 25, 2023

Abstract

It is very stressful for parents to raise children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which can create marital conflicts and relationship dissatisfaction. A variety of circumstances, including the intensity of their child’s behaviors, quality of life, and life satisfaction it plays significant role on the parents. This study aims to investigate the satisfaction of having a child with autism, on the marital relationship, life, and quality of life of the Saudi parents. A quantitative descriptive approach was used. A total of 49 Saudi parents of autistic children completed an online questionnaire. Overall results indicated that Saudi parents with autistic children are satisfied with their life, marital relationship, and their quality of life. In addition, results showed significant differences in life satisfaction and QOL of divorced Saudi parents of autistic children. On the other hand, there was no significant differences of married Saudi parents of autistic children. Furthermore, the study indicate that significant differences wasn’t observed between the Saudi fathers and mothers of autistic children.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Marital relationship; Life satisfaction; Quality of life; Saudi parents

Introduction

ASD

ASD is a neuro developmental syndrome marked by communication difficulties, restricted interests, and repetitive activities [1]. ASD, which includes a multitude of cognitive deficits in children, is frequently recognized in the first few years of life [2]. These behaviors may result in parental embarrassment, social exclusion, and loneliness, which may affect not just the person with high functioning autism, but also their family [3]. Children with ASD when they are stressed or their daily routines change, they may demonstrate antisocial behaviors such as aggression, social disengagement, or the urge for self-stimulation. The societal consequences make it difficult for parents to raise their autistic children. Parental isolation, humiliation, and social withdrawal may come from these practices [4]. According to a review of the literature Zeina [5], the amount of children with ASD in Saudi Arabia is not properly prevalent. However, according to The Saudi Ministry of Health [6], one in every 160 kids has an ASD. Unfortunately, little is understood about ASD, and there is virtually no information available about the needs of parents and siblings of children with ASD [7]. Therefore, Saudi Arabia sponsors a number of private institutions and provides aid for the care of children with ASD and their families; however, these services are limited and only available in major cities. Parents of children with ASD in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have various challenges and problems in parenting their children due to the disease's toll on children in Saudi culture, as well as traditional cultural issues impacting their people and their expanding social life [8].

Quality of Marital Relationship of Children with ASD

Several studies show that parents of impaired children, particularly those with children who have ASD, exhibit lower levels of marital satisfaction when compared to couples with children who are not disabled [9]. According to Anna’s study [10]. The overall evaluation result (4 sten-low result) on the quality of the marital relationship in the group of wives and husbands indicates a lack of contentment with the marital connection. Individual aspect scores on the scale, on the other hand, range from 4 to 7, indicating low to moderate marital satisfaction. In terms of marital discontent, the females were more dissatisfied than the husbands. The study's result of poor overall marital happiness is puzzling because couples have choices for coping with stress. Despite disappointment and a willingness to make their relationship look different, they accept things as they are and manage the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral problems that come with caring for a child with ASD during the pandemic, even if the relationship's overall level of satisfaction may be lower.

Life Satisfaction in Parents of Children with ASD

Most fathers who have children who have been diagnosed with ASD do not quit their jobs to take on the role of main caregiver, due to the difficulties they have raising their autistic child at home, they work longer hours to get away from their house [11]. According to Montes [12] Mothers, on the other hand, stated that their child's disability had a significant personal impact on them and were honest about their feelings. Even though working women regularly missed work, they were frequently forced to acquire part-time employment or even give up their outside jobs in order to care for their autistic children. The level of care necessary in an autistic child's everyday life is a significant source of stress, particularly for mothers. All of these factors may have an influence on the enjoyment of the parents' life. Life satisfaction is a person's appraisal of their degree of contentment with their current position based on comparisons to criteria they have set for themselves [13].

Quality of Life (QOL) in parents of Children with ASD

Autism is becoming more common, prompting issues regarding its origins and how it affects the QOL of both people with autism and those who care for them in their families [14]. A study by Mohammad [15] on the QOL and its predictors of primary parents of autistic children revealed that gender, age, monthly income, and marital status were major factors of careers’ QOL for autistic children. Despite the acknowledged importance of QOL, research, and the significant impact of having a child with autism, the QOL of parents of children with autism has gotten very little attention in comparison to other childhood difficulties [16]. A good QOL among married participants in an Eastern Saudi Arabia study may have been a result of their partners' support and care, particularly while coping with autistic children, and an investigation of the effects of monthly income on parents of autistic children discovered that those with higher monthly incomes had better social functioning, mental health, and vitality than those with lower monthly incomes [17]. Autistic parents frequently report feeling less satisfied with their quality of life [18].

Materials and Methods

The study focused on Saudi parents of children with ASD. The information was gathered from 49 parents. The participant was given a link of the permission form. The length of the assessments was probably between 10 and 20 minutes. For the participants, there are no anticipated risks. Additionally, they had the option to interrupt the evaluation at any time and refuse to answer a particular question. All participants was informed that taking part in the study will not provide any additional advantages beyond advancing our understanding of the requirements of families with children with ASD.

Study Design

For this study, a qualitative descriptive design was employed. Finding summative trends in relation to the data set was the main goal of the descriptive design. Different measures have been used in the study to measure how satisfied parents of children with ASD are with their lives, their marriages, and their quality of life.

The Questionnaire Tool

1. Appendix E. Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) in Arabic.

2. Appendix G. Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) in Arabic.

3. Quality of Life Scale in Arabic.

Statistical Analysis

Data were analyzed with the use of computer software. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29.0.1.0 (171), the collected data was examined in accordance with the goals of the current study using various statistical procedures including the independent sample t-test and the mean. P<0.05 was considered as significant.

Results

The results of the mean in Table 1 suggested that Saudi parents with autistic children are satisfied with their life, marital relationship, and their quality of life.