Correlation of Spiritual-religious Well-being and Care Burden Among Mothers of Children With Autism

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Mothers of children with autism encounter numerous challenges that can greatly impact their caregiving responsibilities. However, spiritual-religious well-being (SWB), being a fundamental aspect of human life, has the potential to alleviate a significant portion of this burden. This study aimed to explore the relationship between spiritual-religious components and care burden among mothers of children with autism. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study involved 102 mothers of children with autism who sought assistance at the autism centers affiliated with the Qom University of Medical Sciences in 2022. Convenience sampling was used, and data were collected through questionnaires on demographic characteristics, SWB, and caregiving burden. Descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis were performed using SPSS software, version 22 with a significance level of 0.005. Results: The participating mothers had an average care burden score of 75.44±22.3 and a SWB score of 196.8±28.3. Linear regression analysis revealed that hope for the future and general religiosity were predictors of care burden in mothers of children with autism. Conclusion: Mothers of children with autism experience a moderate burden of care, which is influenced by their spiritual and religious well-being. Understanding the spiritual and religious components that impact the caregiving burden can assist therapists in providing solutions to reduce stress and alleviate the burden of care for these mothers.

Keywords

• care burden
• spirituality
• religion
• autism