Caregiver Burnout and Psychological Counseling Needs Among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Hanoi, Vietnam

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience considerable psychological pressure in the process of caregiving and supporting their child’s development. Prolonged caregiving demands may lead to caregiver burnout and increase the need for psychological support. This study aims to examine the level of caregiver burnout and the psychological counseling needs of parents raising children with ASD in Hanoi, Vietnam. The research was conducted with 98 parents who were directly caring for children diagnosed with ASD. A mixed-method approach was employed, combining a questionnaire survey with in-depth interviews. The findings indicate that parents experienced a moderate level of caregiver burnout, with prominent manifestations including emotional exhaustion, feelings of overload, and a lack of personal time. In addition, parents reported a relatively high demand for psychological counseling services. In particular, they expressed strong needs for learning stress management strategies, receiving guidance on coping with caregiving-related stress, and participating in parent support groups. The results suggest that developing psychological counseling programs and social support services for parents of children with ASD is essential in order to reduce psychological strain and enhance the mental well-being of families.