The Uncertainty in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders=自閉 症孩童母親不確定感之探討

Abstract

For mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) , the incomprehensibility of children's behavior and the unpredictability of their prognosis may induce maternal uncertainty, which influence the quality of care-giving. The purpose of this study is to investigate the sense of uncertainty in mothers of children with ASD, and compare our findings with mothers of children with other severe illnesses, in order to recognize the status of the sense of uncertainty in mothers of children with ASD. Sixty-four volunteered mothers who have preschool children with a diagnosis of Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder or atypical Autism were recruited from nine rehabilitation departments, two developmental centers and one autism related association in Taipei. Mothers' level of uncertainty was evaluated by Parents? Perception Uncertainty in Illness Scale (PPUS). The results indicate that the level of uncertainty in mothers of children with ASD was the same as those of children with cancers and seizure, and higher than those of preterm infants. Therefore, related health care providers of children with ASD have to pay attention to mothers' uncertainty and actively provide them related information and support to decrease their uncertainty, and this will help mothers participate in caring and training their children with ASD actively.