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Subjective Burden and Depression in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in India: Moderating Effect of Social Support

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Abstract

The quantitative study assessed subjective burden, depression, and the moderating effect of social support in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in India. Seventy mothers were interviewed using a structured interview schedule, which measured their subjective burden, depression, and social support from family, friends, and significant others. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis with interaction terms. Half of the mothers in the study reported depression of clinical significance. Higher subjective burden significantly predicted higher depression. Of the three sources of support, only medium/high family support had a direct impact on depression and also moderated the impact of the subjective burden of depression. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pravah, New Delhi, India

    Prerna Singh

  2. Center for Health and Mental Health, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, V.N. Purav Marg, Deonar, Mumbai, 400088, India

    Subharati Ghosh

  3. Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin, 1220 Medical Sciences Center, 1300 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Subhrangshu Nandi

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PS conceived the study, collected, entered and cleaned the data and helped with writing the manuscript. SG co-conceived the study, interpreted the results and drafted the manuscript. SN performed the statistical analysis, interpreted the results and drew the figures. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Subharati Ghosh.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Singh, P., Ghosh, S. & Nandi, S. Subjective Burden and Depression in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in India: Moderating Effect of Social Support. J Autism Dev Disord 47, 3097–3111 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3233-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3233-y

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