Dataset for: Demographic, Ecological, and Social Predictors of Quality of Life among Parents of Autistic Children: A Multi-center Cross-sectional Study
Description
Autism is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions worldwide, impacting roughly 1 in 36 children, as per the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Autism is associated with lifelong challenges, leading to significant social, educational, and psychological impacts for both the children and their families. Yet, in Iraq, there exists a critical lack of research on this condition to the extent that no official estimate of its prevalence has been reported. This gap severely hinders the ability to provide adequate healthcare and support systems for these children and their families. To address this gap, the International Branch of Tehran University for Medical Sciences and Al-Subtain Academy for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders have conducted nine studies as a part of a research collaboration titled “Epidemiological, Clinical, and Psychosocial Aspects of Iraqi Children with Autism”. As a part of this collaboration, we showed that psychosocial quality of life is generally lower than physical quality of life for parents of autistic children, highlighting the nature of the majority of challenges associated with providing care for these children. Using multiple linear regression analysis, lower quality of life was demonstrated among mothers, younger parents, those with female children, and those whose children had other comorbid conditions. Our results can be used to improve the allocation of support, including interventions aimed at enhancing family functioning, to parents who truly need it.