Little is known about the Quality of Life (QoL) in mothers of Arab children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD):

The aim of the present study was to assess QOL among mothers with children affected with ASD:

Socio-demographic variables and ASD history were assessed using personal interview with a structured questionnaire. HRQoL domains were assessed using SF-36 questionnaire, while maternal mental health was assessed using Mini-International Neuropsychaitric interview (MINI-Arabic Version).

Mothers of children with ASD group showed significant deterioration along the physical and social domains of HRQoL compared to mothers of apparently healthy children. Deterioration in HRQoL showed a positive correlation with the level of severity of the children's symptoms and to coexisting behavioral problems and lower socio-demographic profile.

Results of this study provide preliminary evidence that mothers of children in need of social support and clinical interventions which are family centered, rather than child focused.