1Scholar (PhD Psychology), Bharatiya Engineering Science and Technology Innovation University (BESTIU), Gorantla, Sri Sathya Sai District, Andhra Pradesh, India
2Assistant Professor in Psychology, Bharatiya Engineering Science and Technology Innovation University (BESTIU), Gorantla, Sri Sathya Sai District, Andhra Pradesh, India
The present study examined depression, anxiety, stress, and coping mechanisms among parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and non-ASD children. The primary objective was to determine and compare the levels of psychological distress and coping strategies among parents in both groups. A total sample of 150 parents of children with ASD and non-ASD was selected, and standardized questionnaires were administered to assess psychological variables and coping patterns. Descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, were used to analyze the socio-demographic characteristics of the sample. Group differences were assessed using the independent samples t-test or Mann–Whitney U test, depending on data distribution, and the Chi-square test for categorical variables. Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the relationships among the components of the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), and Brief COPE. Discriminant function analysis was performed to identify the most significant variables differentiating the ASD and non-ASD groups. The findings revealed that parents of children with ASD reported significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, with severe and extremely severe categories being markedly more prevalent (p < 0.001) compared to parents of non-ASD children. Furthermore, parents of children with ASD demonstrated lower levels of coping skills, whereas parents of non-ASD children showed moderate levels of coping mechanisms. The results highlight the substantial psychological burden experienced by parents of children with ASD and emphasize the need for targeted psychological support and coping-based interventions.
Keywords: Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Coping mechanism and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
How to cite this article: Dasari S, Naraganti S, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Coping Mechanisms among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Non ASD. .Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026; 16(11s): 830-843; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.11s.84
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None