The investigation of the depression levels of parents of children with autism

The aim of this study was to investigate the depression levels of parents of children with autism. The depression levels of mothers (N=35) and fathers (N=23) of autistic children educated in special education and rehabilitation centers were examined. In this study, socio-demographic features i.e., gender, age, education of mothers and fathers, occupation, were collected and the Beck Depression Inventory was applied to the parents to determine the risk factors of depression, symptom levels. The inventory includes 21 phrases of self-evaluation and possible scores range from 0 - 63. In the statistical analysis of the data, frequency values were applied to the evaluation of the demographic status. The mean and standard deviation were determined to evaluate the depression levels. T-tests were performed to compare the depression levels of mothers and fathers. An Anova test was performed to assess the relationships between the parameters. As a result, it was determined that mothers of autistic children have medium levels of depression (18,80±11,05), and fathers of autistic children have mild levels of depression. T-test analysis showed no significant differences between depression levels of mothers and fathers (p<0,05). Additionally; when income rates, occupations and educational status parameters were taken into account there was no significant difference according to the Anova test (p<0,05). In conclusion, mothers of autistic children have higher depression levels than the fathers