The Study of Psychophysiological and Health Corollaries of Child Problem Behaviours in Caregivers of Children with Autism and ADHD

The best relationship between problem behaviours of children with additional complex needs and psychological distress in their caregivers has been widely evidenced. There are a few studies, however, have assessed the relationship between care recipients’ problem behaviours and physiological processes key, relevant for the physical health status of their care providers. This research examined the endocrine, psychological and health corollaries of child problem behaviours in caregivers of children with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The researcher used ۰۲ caregivers. She wanted them to complete self-report measures of psychological distress, child problem behaviours and incidences of commonly occurring ailments. To use important parameters of the basal diurnal cortisol pattern, caregivers collected saliva samples at waking, ۵۳ min post waking, ۰۵۲۲ h and ۰۵۲۲ h on two consecutive weekdays. The results revealed a positive relationship between caregivers’ perceived levels of stress and problems with child conduct behaviours. Caregivers who reported more problems with child emotional and hyperactivity behaviours displayed atypical cortisol patterns characterized by flatter diurnal cortisol slopes and reduced cortisol awakening response magnitude. Subjective reports of commonly occurring ailments were also greater in caregivers experiencing more problems with child emotional behaviours. These findings indicate that implications for interventions that aim to improve the psychophysiological well-being of the caregiver by targeting problem behaviours of the care recipient.

Keywords:

ADHD , autism , caregivers , child problem behaviours , common health problems