Caregiver mental health burden in families of children with autism in Saudi Arabia

In the Arab world, and especially the gulf region, the absence of well-established support and research systems for caregivers of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder creates substantial challenges. To understand and help caregivers, it is important to understand the interaction between the caregivers, the family constellation, and the resulting outcomes for the child. This research focused on understanding the impact of caregiver demographic and child-specific factors and family dynamics on child autism severity and caregiver mental health. From a cross-sectional study covering 104 caregivers in Saudi Arabia, research for caregiver mental health (PHQ-9, GAD-7 scale), child characteristics and family dynamics was carried out through structured questionnaires. The statistical methods then applied were Spearman correlation, ANOVA and t tests. Compared to fathers, mothers demonstrated a greater prevalence of anxiety (12.5%) and depression (6.7%). Caregiver anxiety was more pronounced when therapy was longer (ρ = 0.271, p = 0.005). Child symptoms were a primary factor regarding caregiver distress. Family size, birth order, and prenatal factors were found to have a minimal effect on autism severity and mental health of the caregiver. Findings clearly highlight the need for culturally appropriate interventions and specialized support programs to deal with the caregiver mental health crisis in the Arab world.