Self-assessment of quality of life in families raising a child with autism spectrum disorders

The article provides a theoretical justification and presents the results of an empirical study on the characteristics of self-assessed quality of life in families raising children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Family quality of life is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct integrating physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of well-being. Self assessment functions as an internal regulatory mechanism that shapes coping strategies and determines the extent to which available resources are utilized. The study demonstrates that the quality of life of such families is formed through the interaction of external conditions (socio-economic, institutional, and resource related factors) and internal determinants (emotional state, attitudes, and parental strategies). Raising a child with autism is often accompanied by heightened anxiety, frustration, emotional exhaustion, and disruptions in family relationships. The key determinants of reduced quality of life include the severity of autism symptoms, lack of systematic support, social isolation, stigmatization, persistent anxiety about the child’s future, and insufficient time for resource recovery. The empirical findings indicate that families raising children with autism spectrum disorders are characterized by elevated emotional tension, a predominance of overprotection, control, and self-sacrifice, combined with a deficit of partner-based relationships and trusting communication. Such families more frequently exhibit signs of fatigue, anxiety, decreased emotional stability, and a pronounced sense of social isolation. It was found that the quality of life of these families is closely associated with parents’ capacity for self regulation, level of emotional maturity, support from the social environment, and access to professional assistance. The study emphasizes the need to develop comprehensive psychological support programs for families raising children with autism spectrum disorders, aimed at reducing emotional strain, enhancing self-regulation skills, fostering constructive parent–child interaction patterns, and improving subjective quality of life.