A Comparative Study of Stress Profiles in Mothers of Children with Autism and those of Children with Down's Syndrome

Background The purpose of the present study was to determine the stress in mothers whose children have autism and to compare it with the stress in mothers whose children have Down's syndrome. Method Fifty mothers whose children had autism ( n = 25) or Down's syndrome ( n = 25) completed the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress (QRS) and answered some demographic questions. Results The mothers of children with autism presented higher stress levels on seven of the 15 scales of the QRS. Conclusion The results are discussed in the context of the unsatisfactory care system for children with autism in Poland.