Leisure and Social Participation and Health-Related Quality of Life in Caregivers of Children With Autism

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with a norm-based sample. An additional aim was to examine the relationship between engagement in leisure and social occupations and HRQoL in mothers of children with ASD. Thirty-three mothers of children with ASD, between 27 and 49 years of age, participated. Study participants between the ages of 35 and 44 years reported poorer mental HRQoL than a national sample, but comparable physical HRQoL. Findings also revealed inverse correlations between participation in hobbies and community/education activities and physical HRQoL (e.g., participation in hobbies and community education/activities increased as physical HRQoL decreased). The mental HRQoL of caregivers of children with ASD is lower than that of the general population, suggesting the need for occupational therapists to include psychosocial screening and referral for this group in their practice. In addition, results suggest that the relation between participation and health is complex, warranting further investigation.