Desempenho ocupacional e nível de sobrecarga de mães de crianças no transtorno do espectro autista

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized as a neurodevelopmental disorder, marked by impairments in reciprocal social interaction skills, communication skills and the presence of stereotypical behaviors. Such characteristics have impacts beyond the individual with autism, as they can constitute stressful factors for family members and caregivers. Among family members, mothers have been widely identified as the main caregivers of children with ASD, as they assume high levels of responsibility in relation to the care provided, making them more vulnerable to overload. Furthermore, caring for a child with ASD can lead parents to a process of losing the characteristics of their own daily life, by taking over the child's daily life and prioritizing their needs, leading to ruptures, changes and even readjustments of their social lives. Objective: To investigate the occupational performance and level of overload of mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as the impact of Occupational Therapy interventions on family life over a period of 6 months of treatment. Methodology: Research conducted using a collective and explanatory case study method. The participants were mothers of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder assisted by the School Health Unit (USE) of the Federal University of São Carlos. To develop the study, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, the Zarit Overload Scale and the medical records of the institution chosen for data collection were used. Results: The study showed the presence of impairment in occupational performance and overload in the lives of all participants, whether in self-care, leisure or productive activities. After the six-month period delimited by the research, an improvement in overload levels, occupational performance and satisfaction was observed, as well as the inclusion of new activities in the mothers' daily lives. Discussion: By taking full care of their children's demands, mothers stop carrying out their own activities and occupations, developing compromises in their occupational performance and quality of life. And, with regard to the characteristics of their children, the main factors responsible for influencing maternal stress are related to communication difficulties, self-care and behavioral problems, such as disobedience, agitation and irritation. It is worth noting that the parental stress generated by ASD does not only depend on the disorder, but also on the family's access to information, treatments and support network. Thus, it is suggested that the inclusion of the children in this research in Occupational Therapy actions may have been characterized as one of the factors mitigating overload, due to the development of autonomy in Daily Life Activities and socialization, as well as the minimization of restrictive and repetitive behaviors