Comparison of Perceived Stress, Family Cohesion and Self-Concept in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and normal

The presence of children with autism spectrum disorder in the family imposes great pressure on family members especially on mothers. Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder are faced with numerous challenges that expose them to high levels of stress and other negative psychological consequences. This study is conducted in order to compare levels of perceived stress, family coherence, and self-concept in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder and normal.
The present study is conducted with a causal-comparative design. The statistical population of the study is comprised of all mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder and normal in the age range of 7 to 11 in Rasht, in 2013-14. The sample of study consisted of 49 mothers of children with autism and 52 mothers of normal who were selected via convenience sampling procedures. To measure the variables, the researchers deployed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) (Cohen et al. 1983), Family Cohesion Scale (FCS) (Bloom and Naar, 1994), and the Beck Self-Concept Test (BST) (1989). Collected data were analyzed with both descriptive (mean value and standard deviation) and inferential statistical methods (multivariate analysis of variance).
The results showed that there is a significant difference between the two groups of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder and mothers of normal children in all of the variables of Perceived Stress (p Therefore, it seems necessary to develop appropriate training programs for parents to prevent the negative impact of growing children with autism spectrum disorder on family members especially on mothers.