SELECTED FACTORS RELATED TO BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS OF PRESCHOOL AUTISTIC CHILDREN

Abstract

The purpose of this research were to study behavioral  problems of preschool autistic children and relationship among selected factors including the severity of disease, parental  behavior,  depression of mother, stress of parents and behavioral  problems of preschool autistic children. This study was a descriptive correlation research. The subjects were 99 parent of autistic children aged 4-6 years and parents who sought treatment at Yuwaprasatwitayopathum hospital were recruited according to the inclusion criteria. The research instruments were demographic questionnaire, strength and difficulties questionnaire-SDQ, Autism treatment evaluation checklist (ATEC), The parent’s report Scale, Hamilton Ratting Scale for Depression: HRSD, Perceived Stress Scale: PSS. All instruments were tested for content validity. The five latter instruments had Cronbach's alpha coefficient reliability as of .75, .89, .90, .76 and .82, respectively. Statistic techniques utilized in data analysis were Frequency, Percentage, Mean, Standard deviation, and Pearson's product moment correlation. Results: The parental behavior were negatively correlated behavioral problems of preschool autistic children level .05 (r=-.254, p=.011), Stress of parents were positive correlated behavioral problems of preschool autistic children level .05 (r =-.204, p=.042) and the severity of disease and depression of mother were not significantly related to behavioral problems of preschool autistic children