Autism Moms Have Stress

[Guest guest]

DAMN, as a father, I'm glad to find out that Autism Dads don't experience any of

this stress.

 

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/11/10/autism-moms-stress/6121/

Autism Moms Have Stress Similar To Combat SoldiersBy Diament

November 10, 2009

Mothers of adolescents and adults with autism experience chronic stress

comparable to combat soldiers and struggle with frequent fatigue and work

interruptions, new research finds. These moms also spend significantly more time

caregiving than moms of those without disabilities.

Researchers followed a group of moms of adolescents and adults with autism for

eight days in a row. Moms were interviewed at the end of each day about their

experiences and on four of the days researchers measured the moms’ hormone

levels to assess their stress.

They found that a hormone associated with stress was extremely low, consistent

with people experiencing chronic stress such as soldiers in combat, the

researchers report in one of two studies published in the Journal of Autism and

Developmental Disorders.

“This is the physiological residue of daily stress,†says Marsha Mailick

Seltzer, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who authored the

studies. “The mothers of children with high levels of behavior problems have

the most pronounced physiological profile of chronic stress, but the long-term

effect on their physical health is not yet known.â€

Such hormone levels have been associated with chronic health problems and can

affect glucose regulation, immune functioning and mental activity, researchers

say.

In a companion study, the researchers followed up with the same group of mothers

daily to interview them about how they used their time, their level of fatigue,

what leisure activities they participated in and whether or not stressful events

occurred. This information was then compared with data from a national sample of

mothers whose children do not have disabilities.

Mothers of those with autism reported spending at least two hours more each day

caregiving than mothers of children without disabilities. On any given day these

moms were also twice as likely to be tired and three times as likely to have

experienced a stressful event.

What’s more, these moms were interrupted at work on one out of every four days

compared to less than one in 10 days for other moms.

Despite all of this, mothers of an individual with autism were just as likely to

have positive experiences each day, volunteer or support their peers as those

whose children have no developmental disability, researchers found.

“On a day-to-day basis, the mothers in our study experience more stressful

events and have less time for themselves compared to the average American

mother,†says Leann , a developmental psychologist at the University of

Wisconsin-Madison who worked on the studies. “We need to find more ways to be

supportive of these families.â€

In particular, the researchers say that parents need better respite options and

flexibility from their employers. Further, they say, programs to help manage

behavior problems can go a long way toward improving the situation for mothers

and their kids alike.

 

Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants.

Make yourselves sheep and the wolves will eat you.

Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

Ben lin