Association Between Burnout and Anxiety in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Karachi, Pakistan: A Secondary Analysis
1
Community Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by disturbances in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. A study conducted earlier by us on 200 parents of children with autism showed that moderate to severe anxiety and burnout existed among parents, along with significant associations between parental anxiety and child’s gender, father’s age, and family type, while parental burnout was significantly associated with father’s age, father’s education, and family type. Methods A secondary analysis was conducted on the collected data to examine the association between parental burnout and anxiety among parents of children with ASD. Linear regression models were performed to assess the effect of parental burnout on GAD scores. Burnout scores were mean-centered, and multiple linear regression was performed to assess their effect on anxiety. The analyses were adjusted for potential confounders, including type of family, parent gender, parents age, and monthly household income.
RESULTS:
The results of the secondary analysis showed that parental burnout was a strong and significant predictor of anxiety (B=0.150, β=0.633, t=11.30, p<0.001). Child gender independently predicted anxiety, with parents of boys reporting higher anxiety than parents of girls (B= -1.656, β= -0.141, p= 0.009). Among confounders, family type was also significantly associated with anxiety, with parents in joint families reporting higher anxiety than those in nuclear families (B=1.539, β=0.141, t=2.58, p=0.011). However, Monthly household income and parent’s age were not significantly associated with anxiety.
CONCLUSIONS:
Parental burnout is a significant predictor of anxiety among parents of children with ASD. These findings suggest that interventions targeting parental burnout, could directly reduce anxiety. Additionally, parents of male child have reported higher anxiety so interventions may be tailored to this group. Family-focused support strategies may be particularly beneficial in joint family settings. These findings also highlight the importance of screening for mental health issues.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by disturbances in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. A study conducted earlier by us on 200 parents of children with autism showed that moderate to severe anxiety and burnout existed among parents, along with significant associations between parental anxiety and child’s gender, father’s age, and family type, while parental burnout was significantly associated with father’s age, father’s education, and family type. Methods A secondary analysis was conducted on the collected data to examine the association between parental burnout and anxiety among parents of children with ASD. Linear regression models were performed to assess the effect of parental burnout on GAD scores. Burnout scores were mean-centered, and multiple linear regression was performed to assess their effect on anxiety. The analyses were adjusted for potential confounders, including type of family, parent gender, parents age, and monthly household income.
RESULTS:
The results of the secondary analysis showed that parental burnout was a strong and significant predictor of anxiety (B=0.150, β=0.633, t=11.30, p<0.001). Child gender independently predicted anxiety, with parents of boys reporting higher anxiety than parents of girls (B= -1.656, β= -0.141, p= 0.009). Among confounders, family type was also significantly associated with anxiety, with parents in joint families reporting higher anxiety than those in nuclear families (B=1.539, β=0.141, t=2.58, p=0.011). However, Monthly household income and parent’s age were not significantly associated with anxiety.
CONCLUSIONS:
Parental burnout is a significant predictor of anxiety among parents of children with ASD. These findings suggest that interventions targeting parental burnout, could directly reduce anxiety. Additionally, parents of male child have reported higher anxiety so interventions may be tailored to this group. Family-focused support strategies may be particularly beneficial in joint family settings. These findings also highlight the importance of screening for mental health issues.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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