Spiritual Health and Its Related Factors Among Mothers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder in Qom, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objectives Having a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) severely affects the family life. The parents of these children, especially mothers, face many problems. Spiritual health can be important for these mothers in dealing with problems. This study aimed to investigate the spiritual health of mothers of children with ASD and its related factors in Qom, Iran.

Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with the participation of 178 mothers of children with ASD, who were selected using a convenience sampling method from among those referred to rehabilitation centers for autistic children in Qom, Iran, in 2023. They were asked to complete the questionnaires, including a demographic form and the spiritual well-being scale (SWBS). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (Mean±SD, frequency, percentage) and inferential statistics (independent t-test and analysis of variance) in SPSS software, version 22.

Results The mean SWBS score was 86.14±19.06. The findings showed that the existential domains score in mothers was 39.32±10.81, which was lower than that of the religious domain (46.83±10.40). There was no significant difference in the SWBS score based on the sociodemographic characteristics of mothers (P>0.05).

Conclusion Considering the moderate level of spiritual health among mothers of children with ASD in Qom, it is recommended that health policymakers implement targeted support interventions, including educational, counseling, and spiritual development programs, in rehabilitation centers for mothers of children with ASD.