The Anxiety of Children’s Future in Parents Who Have Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

— This study aims to determine whether parents have anxiety about the children’s future diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Children with autism spectrum disorder have more complex characteristics than the children with special need, so that parenting has its own challenges. This research was conducted using a survey method by providing a scale of anxiety about the children’s future to the subject. The subjects consisted of 10 (ten) mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders.The result showed that 9 (nine) people experienced anxiety in the moderate category, and one (1) person experienced anxiety in the low category. The subjects who have moderate level of anxiety in the cognitive aspects, such as negative thoughts about the children’s future who are considered unable to live a normal life like other individuals. Future research is expected to be able to provide interventions to reduce anxiety in parents of the children with autism spectrum disorders, because the anxiety experienced by parents will affect the quality of care for the children.