EFFECTS OF CAREGIVING OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ON THE CAREGIVERS’ PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING IN SELECTED INTEGRATED PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

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The psychological well-being of an individual is important for them to flourish in life. However, the demands associated with taking care of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may derange the caregivers from achieving their psychological well-being. ASD is a neurodevelopmental childhood disorder that persists into adulthood. It impairs an individual’s social, cognitive, and behavioural domains, causing most of the children to be dependent on caregivers throughout their lives. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of caregiving of children with ASD on the caregivers’ psychological wellbeing. The study’s objective explored how caregiving of children with ASD affects the caregivers’ psychological wellbeing. The study employed the Social Ecological System Theory to explain the importance of a supportive environment in facilitating the caregivers to achieve their psychological well-being. The Cognitive Behavioural Theory was used to discuss the interventions to mitigate the effects of caregiving on caregivers’ psychological well-being. The study used a qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach and purposive sampling method.to select 24 informal caregivers and four formal caregivers from selected integrated primary schools in Nairobi. The study used in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) to collect data from the caregivers. Data was captured using video tape recordings and field notes. Verbatim transcription was employed. QSRN N’vivo 10 data software was used to simplify and analyse data. The result revealed that caregiving of children with ASD affect the caregivers’ psychological wellbeing in the selected integrated primary schools in Nairobi County. The study recommends creation of public awareness about ASD, availing authentic information about ASD symptoms to help the caregivers to seek early interventions for their children with ASD, making therapies accessible and affordable, equal distribution of the available resources among children with ASD and availing psychological support to the caregivers as measures of mitigating the effects of caregiving of children with ASD.