A study on the awareness and attitudes of mothers with children aged 0–6 towards autism in terms of various variables

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine mothers’ awareness and attitudes towards autism. The current study was conducted within the framework of the quantitative research method of the correlational survey model, involving 511 mothers between the ages of 18–50 with preschool-aged children. Among the participating mothers, 49.3% were in the 18–33 age range, while 50.7% were in the 34–50 age range. Regarding the number of children, 36.8% of mothers had one child, 46.0% had two children, 13.9% had three children, and 3.3% had four or more children. In terms of educational background, 7.0% had primary education, 16.8% had high school education, 15.5% had associate degrees, 43.6% had bachelor’s degrees, and 17.0% had postgraduate degrees. Data were collected using a demographic information form developed by the researchers, along with two different scales: the ‘Preschool Children Mothers’ Autism Awareness Scale’ and the ‘Societal Attitudes Toward Autism Scale.’ The findings suggest that, to reduce the stress levels of mothers with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and enhance their preparedness, it is recommended to increase the awareness and knowledge levels of prospective mothers regarding ASD before pregnancy. Additionally, interventions aimed at changing negative attitudes and addressing educational deficiencies related to autism in mothers may influence their awareness and the sub-dimensions of the attitude scale.