Satisfação com o suporte social de cuidadores primários de crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista

Abstract

The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted and repetitive behavior patterns, directly impacting the quality of life of caregivers. This study aimed to investigate the level of social support among primary caregivers of children with ASD. It is a cross-sectional study with a descriptive analysis, conducted at the Rehabilitation and Quality of Life Center of the Federal University of Sergipe (CRQV-UFS) in Simão Dias. Questionnaires were applied to assess the socioeconomic and clinical characteristics of both the caregiver and the child, as well as the Social Support Satisfaction Scale (ESSS). Of the 102 caregivers who participated in the study, the majority were women (95.1%)., aged between 31 and 40 years (40.2%), with low education levels (87.3%) and financial difficulties (88.2%). Among the children, 52.9% required minimal support (Level 1), 20.6% substantial support (Level 2), and 26.5% very substantial support (Level 3). ANOVA analysis indicated that the child's support level significantly influenced caregivers' satisfaction with social activities (p = 0.039), with lower satisfaction among those caring for children who require greater support. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. The findings suggest that the increased support needs of children with ASD are associated with greater social isolation of caregivers, without a significant impact on other aspects of social support. These results highlight the importance of intervention strategies aimed at expanding support networks and mitigating the negative effects of prolonged caregiving on caregivers' well-being.