Nazia Mumtaz - Department of Speech Language Pathology, Faculty of Rehab and Allied Health Sciences,Riphah International University, Lahore, Pakistan.
Tanveer Fatima - Centre of Mentally and Physically Affected Special Students (COMPASS), Lahore, Pakistan.
Ghulam Saqulain - Department of Otorhinolaryngology Capital Hospital PGMI, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Objectives: The study aimed to explore the perceived burden and stress among mothers of autistic children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Riphah International University over ۴ months, from October ۲۰۲۰ to January ۲۰۲۱. The samples were recruited using non-probability convenience sampling and comprised ۸۴ mothers (۲۳-۶۰ years old) of children aged ۳-۱۶ years with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from different special education centers in Lahore. A demographic questionnaire, Parental Stress Scale (PSS), and Zarit burden interview (ZBI) were used to collect the study data, which were analyzed in SPSS v. ۲۲ software.  Results: Forty-five Mothers (۵۳.۶%) suffered from moderate to severe burden with a high Mean±SD ZBI (۴۱.۷۵±۱۰.۶۲) and Parental Stress Scale (PSS) scores (۴۸.۶۷±۸.۰۴). Also, there is a significant positive correlation between the two scores (r=۰.۵۸۵, P=۰.۰۰۰). A significant association was noted between the mother’s stress and the severity of autism (P=۰.۰۰۶) and the child’s medication (P=۰.۰۰۸), also between the mother’s burden and the child’s age (P=۰.۰۱۹). Discussion: According to the current study’s findings, mothers of children with ASD perceived a high level of burden and stress. The association was seen with factors of children’s age, severity level, and child medication.

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Caregiver burden, Parental stress scale