Effects Of Applied Behavior Analysis Intervention On Parenting Psychological Stress Of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Objective To preliminary understand the level of parenting psychological stress of children with ASDs, to explore the effectiveness of ABA intervention on relieving parenting psychological stress and its influencing factors.Methods(1)Totally 31 parents of children with ASDs and 31 parents of healthy children were investigated by Self-Rating Anxiety Scale,self-rating depression scale,Family Assessment Device and Social Support Rating Scale.Horizontal compare the differences in parenting psychological stress,family function and social supports between the ASDs and the normal control group.(2)In this self-control study, 29 children and their parents with ASDs were treated with ABA for 3months.ASDs symptoms were assessed with Autism treatment evaluation checklist by researchers at baseline,the end of 1st month and the end of 3rd month after intervention.Meanwhile doing the correlation analyses.Results(1)Parents of children with ASDs had higher occurrence rate of anxiety(35.5%) and depression(38.7%) than parents of normal control group,there was statistic difference between the two groups(c2=7.88,7.12, P < 0.05).(2)In family functions,the scores of communication,emotional response, emotional involvement, behavior control and the overall function scores among ASDs were higher than normal control group,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05),but the scores in problem-solving and role were no statistic difference(P>0.05).(3)In social supports,the scores of total supports,subjective supports and utilization of supports among ASDs were lower than normal control group,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05),while the objective supports score difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).(4) Totally 29 children with ASDs and their parents completed 3months ABA intervention.The total scores of speech,social interaction,perception and behavior were significantly decreased after treatment(P<0.01).The total scores of SAS and SDS were also significantly decreased after treatment(P<0.01).(5)The score of SAS and SDS were negatively correlated with the total score of SSRS,and were positive correlation with the total score of ATEC at baseline,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).In the dimension of core symptoms,health/body/behavior problems in relation to the most significant(P<0.05).(6)The parenting scores of SAS and SDS had relationship with the efficacy of treatment for three months(r=-0.77,-0.79,P<0.01).Conclusion(1)Parents of children with ASDs suffered higher psychological stress level than normal control group.(2)Parenting psychological stress level of children with ASDs were positively correlated with the core symptoms(especially health/body/behavioral problems) of children,and were negatively correlated with the level of social support.(3)ABA intervention can not only improve the core symptoms of children but also can reduce the psychological stress level of parents.(4)The parenting psychological stress had relationship with the efficacy of treatment.