The Well-Being of Families Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Qatar

Parents of children with autism often experience increased stress and poorer psychological well-being. Moreover, relationships within the family (e.g., marital relationship) may be negatively impacted. Addressing the needs of family members, particularly parents, is critical, as decades of research have shown that parents’ psy - chological well-being can affect the way that parents interact with their children. These interactional patterns can, in turn, impact children’s development in many of the areas that are affected by autism, including the social and emotional, language, and cognitive domains. This project looks into the impact of having a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on family wellbeing in Qatar and identifies the challenges facing these families and ways to support them. Although family plays a significant role in supporting individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) across their lifespan, the wellbeing of these families rarely takes center stage in either research or policy arenas. In fact, most of the research and policies on ASD focus on the needs of individuals, while the needs of families are seldom addressed. A better understanding of the wellbeing of families of individuals living with ASD in Qatar should contribute to the development of effective policies.

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License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
See report in publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.5339/difi_9789927137969