Determinants of the mental health of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders

Introduction
The mental health of mothers of children with ASD is determined by complex interactions of individual, family and social factors, which may both increase the risk of emotional burden and serve a protective function.

Aim of the research
The aim of the work was to analyse psychological determinants of the mental health of mothers raising children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Material and methods
The study involved 58 women raising children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (according to DSM-5). The following research methods were used in the study: our own survey, the General Health Questionnaire GHQ-28 by D. Goldberg in the Polish adaptation of Z. Makowska and D. Merecz, the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI-PL) in the Polish adaptation by Sorokowska and et al., the Temperament Questionnaire EAS-D (the EAS Temperament Questionnaire by A. Buss and R. Plomin) in the Polish adaptation by W. Oniszczenko, in the version for adults, the DS-14 scale by N. Ogińska-Bulik, Z. Juczyński, and J. Denollet, the Burnout Scale authored by W. Okła and S. Steuden, the Resilience Measurement Scale by N. Ogińska-Bulik and Z. Juczyński, and the Scale of Social Support by K. Kmiecik-Baran.

Results and conclusions
Significant correlations were found between symptoms of mental health disorders in mothers of children with ASD, determined on the basis of the GHQ-28 questionnaire, and the following personality traits: neuroticism and negative emotionality. The significant predictors of mental disorder symptoms in the surveyed mothers of children diagnosed with ASD include the following: problems coping with stress, low tolerance to stress, low resilience, tendency to be socially isolated, physical burnout, and sense of lack of information support.