AUTHOR=Ran Qingqing , Tu Liangzhi , Wu Yinghui , Zhang Shunming , Zhang Erliang , Li Huilun , Su Ya , Xiang Mi 

TITLE=Formal social support and quality of life of caregivers with autistic children: a large-scale nationwide survey in China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1282778

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1282778

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were reported poor quality of life (QOL). Formal social support, provided by government or professional from non-profit institutions, or community groups, might improve the QOL of caregivers, however, limited research to date has focused on this association in China and formal social support for this group is conspicuously lacking. The study was aim to understand the QOL in male and female caregivers with ASD children in China and to explore the relationship between QOL and formal social support for caregivers with children with ASD through a large-scale nationwide survey. This study was conducted in a WeChat group of caregivers in Erkang Assistant. The sample consisted of 6120 caregivers of ASD children. Quality of life were measured by Medical Study Short-Form Health Survey version 2 (Chinese version).Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors affecting caregivers' QOL. The results revealed that the QOL of caregivers of autistic children in China was poor especially male caregivers, who reported a lower physical and mental QOL. Social support was a positive predictor.More importantly, formal social support from rehabilitation institutions can improve caregivers' physical QOL. Caregivers' satisfaction with the rehabilitation institutions affecting their physical and mental QOL. The findings highlighted the urgent need for attention to the QOL of caregivers in China and the importance of formal social support to improve the QOL of caregivers.