A Comparative Study on Self Perceived Health and Quality of Life of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Parents of Non Disabled Children in Croatia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine self- assessed health, quality of life and chronic medical conditions in parents of children with ASD, and compare with parents of non-disabled children in Croatia. The study included 178 parents of children with autism spectrum disorder, of which 105 were mothers (59%) and 73 were fathers (41%). The control group comprise 172 parents of non-disabled children, of which 101 were mothers (58.7%) and 71 were fathers (41.3%). Parents of children with ASD had poorer health and quality of life than the control group in all components, except physical health.Croatia has regulations on disabled persons, but these do not define or give enough significance to the disability in ASD persons and persons with other intellectual disorders. It should be pointed out that ASD, like other intellectual disorders, are not covered by a single legal provision to determine the degree of disability.