New Curtin University-led research has found caregivers of neurodivergent children are more likely to experience clinically significant levels of stress, poor mental health, financial hardship, and negative relationships.
The research, published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, explored the health and wellbeing of caregivers of children living with neurological conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/ hyperactive disorder (ADHD), cerebral palsy, and learning disabilities, and whether current support services were sufficient to meet their needs.
Lead researcher Dr Ben Milbourn, from the Curtin School of Allied Health, said children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental conditions often require significant levels of support from their caregivers and meeting their emotional, physical, social and learning needs can be challenging.
“Our study asked 66 caregivers across Australia, the majority of whom were caring for children living with autism and ADHD, what their biggest challenges and concerns were,” Dr Milbourn said.
“We found that almost 80 per cent of caregivers experienced poor wellbeing, high levels of stress and poor mental health. More than 22 per cent of caregivers also experienced negative stigma from their local community, increasing the feeling of social isolation.
“Financial stresses were also a major contributor to caregivers’ poor mental health and wellbeing, with the study finding that caregivers faced significant obstacles in terms of career success and progression and were often required to make personal sacrifices which impacted their personal identity.”
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