Autism poses numerous challenges on the family, thus, parents of children with autism have poorer Quality of Life (QOL) compared with other developmental conditions. The well-being of children relies heavily on parental QOL which is affected by multiple parental and child factors. Identifying these factors will guide us in creating programs to improve QOL and alleviate family distress. This study aims to determine the QOL of parents of a child with autism and compare it across parental and child factors including adaptive behaviour and autism severity. Parents of children with autism aged 3 to 18 years, diagnosed by Neurodevelopmental Paediatricians at a tertiary children’s hospital were included. Criteria for autism and severity were based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5th Edition. The WHOQOL-BREF was used to assess parental QOL while the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales – II was used to assess the child’s adaptive behaviour. Demographic data were also obtained. Results reveal the social relationship domain to be significantly higher than the psychological, physical, and environmental domains. Child gender, age, intervention, co-morbidity, level of adaptive/maladaptive behaviour and autism severity did not significantly affect parental QOL. Parental gender, education, health status, hired caregiver, autism support group and parenttraining also did not significantly affect QOL. Employment, income and parents living together were associated with higher WHOQOL-BREF scores while primary caregiver role and use of medications (child) were associated with lower scores. Factors associated with QOL may be used to form strategies to alleviate the burden of autism. Factors not affecting QOL such as autism severity or adaptive behaviour highlight the parents’ ability to cope despite the challenges.

Association of parental Quality of Life of with parent and child factors.