Özet:

Purpose: When a disabled child joins a family as a new member, various problems may be observed in intra-family relations and the functioning of the family. Many families with autistic children experience anxiety because they do not know how to behave towards their children or how this will affect heir lives. Parents of children with developmental disorders such as autism may start having self-confidence issues.  Material and Methods: This study was conducted with the participation of the parents of 40 autistic children randomly selected from among 100 children who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and attending a special education center. Results: Participants in the study were parents of 26 male (65%) and 14 female (35%) autistic children. The average age of the children was 62.9±16.6 months. .Mothers had higher levels of depression and anxiety scores. Mothers of autistic children who participated in the study received higher scores on depression, state anxiety and trait anxiety compared to fathers. Among mothers, a significant relationship was found between level of education and level of state anxiety.  Conclusion: The findings of this study show that mothers have higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to fathers. This finding might be explained with reference to customs and traditions of the Turkish society in which the study was conducted, which require women to take more responsiblity for family matters. It is recommended that special education and rehabilitation centers provide counseling to parents about the effects of having an autistic children on their lives, and advise them on seeking psychological help if necessary.

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