The moderating effect of financial stress and autism severity on development of depression among parents and caregivers of Autistic children in Taif, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common problem in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. However, little research explored the extent of anxiety and depressive disorders in parents of children with ASD. METHOD: Descriptive questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey of a sample of parents of children with ASD who attended Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Autistic Centre, Ministry of defense, Taif city. RESULTS: The study included (n = 50) parents. The prevalence of mild depression was 30%, whereas the prevalence of moderately severe depression was 68%. Increased ASD severity level was associated with a significant impact on the PHQ-9 total score (level II was 1.293 times level I to have an increased PHQ-9 score, and level III was 1.530 times level I to have an increased PHQ-9 score). Economic status did not significantly alter depressive symptoms. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: ASD diagnosis in Saudi children is associated with high parental depressive prevalence. However, this result could be bidirectional. Stigma, future-related worry, and stress could mediate parental depressive symptoms. Our findings in Saudi parents of children with ASD corroborate the established association between parental depressive symptoms and ASD severity. Our results corroborated previous findings that neither parental gender nor child gender exert any substantial effect on predictability of depressive symptoms among parents of children with ASD. Comprehensive therapeutic packages for children with ASD should include treatment of emotional problems arising out of carer burden among their parents. Screening for parental emotional problems should be routine in autism treatment facilities.