Stress profile in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder

This thesis is dedicated to the issue of caregiving of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Caregivers of a child with autism experience an increased stress level, which is associated with the child's behavioural and social difficulties. The overview of literature deals with infantile autism, atypical autism and Asperger syndrome. At the same time, it brings the latest findings of research of early diagnosis, etiology and prevalence of ASD. The most important chapter of the overview investigates the psychosocial impacts on parents of children with ASD. These parents experience social isolation, financial problems, mental and physical illness and often impaired family relationships. Characteristics of parents and child with autism, social support and intervention belong amongst factors influencing the stress profile of parents with autistic child. Through the questionnaire Stress profile and semistructured interview the proposal for the qualitative and quantitative research aims at analysing and comparing the results of stress profiles of parents of children with infantile/atypical autism and parents of children with Asperger syndrome to determine whether these two groups of parents differ in their stress profiles. Key words: autism spectrum disorder, stress profile, parents, infantile..