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Quality of Life Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic for Caregivers of Children with ADHD and/or ASD

Author

Listed:
  • Keith W. Pecor

    (Department of Biology, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ 08628, USA)

  • Georgia Barbayannis

    (Department of Neurology, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA)

  • Max Yang

    (College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA)

  • Jacklyn Johnson

    (Department of Neurology, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA)

  • Sarah Materasso

    (College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA)

  • Mauricio Borda

    (Department of Neurology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10467, USA)

  • Disleidy Garcia

    (Department of Neurology, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA)

  • Varsha Garla

    (College of Arts and Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA)

  • Xue Ming

    (Department of Neurology, Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges to caregivers of children. Families with children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are an understudied but potentially vulnerable population to changes during the outbreak. As such, the aim of this study was to contrast quality of life for caregivers of children with ADHD and/or ASD, before and during the pandemic, compared to caregivers of neurotypical (NT) children. Total, Parent Health-Related Quality of Life, and Family Functioning Summary Scores from the Family Impact Module of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory TM were contrasted among caregivers of children with ADHD, ASD, comorbid ADHD and ASD, and NT development. For all scores, caregivers of ADHD and/or ASD children reported lower quality of life, both before and during the pandemic, in comparison to caregivers of NT children. For all diagnoses, quality of life decreased during the pandemic, but caregivers of children with ADHD and/or ASD reported a greater decrease in quality of life than caregivers for NT children. There are limitations to this study in terms of the composition of the sample and the survey methodology, but we are able to conclude that caregivers of children with ADHD and/or ASD have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and it is imperative that these families receive additional resources and support to improve their quality of life.

Suggested Citation

  • Keith W. Pecor & Georgia Barbayannis & Max Yang & Jacklyn Johnson & Sarah Materasso & Mauricio Borda & Disleidy Garcia & Varsha Garla & Xue Ming, 2021. "Quality of Life Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic for Caregivers of Children with ADHD and/or ASD," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3667-:d:528123
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mats Nylén-Eriksen & Ann Kristin Bjørnnes & Hege Hafstad & Irene Lie & Ellen Karine Grov & Mariela Loreto Lara-Cabrera, 2022. "Validating the Five-Item World Health Organization Well-Being Index," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-12, September.
    2. Hui-Wen Tseng & Ching-Shu Tsai & Yu-Min Chen & Ray C. Hsiao & Fan-Hao Chou & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2021. "Poor Mental Health in Caregivers of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Its Relationships with Caregivers’ Difficulties in Managing the Children’s Behaviors and Worsened Psychol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-16, September.
    3. Nur Saadah Mohamad Aun & Siti Marziah Zakaria & Abdul Rahman Ahmad Badayai & Idayu Badilla Idris & Tuti Iryani Mohd Daud & Shima Dyana Mohd Fazree, 2022. "Quality of Life among Mothers of High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HFASD)Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-10, May.
    4. Aneta Lew-Koralewicz, 2022. "Psychosocial Functioning and the Educational Experiences of Students with ASD during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Noemi Mazzoni & Arianna Bentenuto & Fabio Filosofi & Angela Tardivo & Lane Strathearn & Kasra Zarei & Simona De Falco & Paola Venuti & Giuseppe Iandolo & Michele Giannotti, 2022. "Parenting a Child with a Neurodevelopmental Disorder during the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Quantitative and Qualitative Cross-Cultural Findings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-15, December.

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