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Poor Physical Health in Caregivers of Children with ADHD or ASD and its Association with Health Risk Behaviours: NHIS
1Department of Special Physical Education, Sports Sciecne Buliding 8405, 134 Yongindaehak-ro, Samga-dong, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
Insights
Caregivers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience more physical health problems. Suboptimal sleep, smoking, and older age predict these issues in caregivers.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Caregiver Health
Background:
- Limited research exists on physical health and behaviors in caregivers of children with ADHD or ASD.
- Caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders may face unique health challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare physical health problems in caregivers of children with ADHD/ASD versus controls.
- To identify health risk behaviors associated with physical health problems in these caregivers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2016-2018 National Health Interview Survey.
- Employed multivariable logistic regressions to compare health problems.
- Applied decision tree analysis to identify associated risk behaviors.
Main Results:
- Caregivers of children with ADHD had higher rates of nine physical health problems.
- Caregivers of children with ASD had higher rates of two physical health problems.
- Predictors for physical health problems included older age, suboptimal sleep, and current smoking.
Conclusions:
- Findings highlight significant physical health disparities in caregivers of children with ADHD/ASD.
- This study provides a foundation for future research on caregiver well-being.
Background:
There is a dearth of evidence regarding physical health problems and health risk behaviours (e.g., drinking, physical inactivity, smoking, and suboptimal sleep behaviour) in caregivers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder (CCAA). The purposes of the current study were to examine differences in physical health problems between CCAA and caregivers of children without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder (CCWAA) and to explore health risk behaviours associated with those problems.
Method:
Data from the 2016-2018 National Health Interview Survey were used in the current study. 10 common physical health problems were compared between CCAA and CCWAA by using multivariable logistic regressions. In addition, in order to detect associated health risk behaviours, decision tree analysis was performed for physical health problems in CCAA.
Results:
Of the 10 physical health problems, caregivers of children with ADHD showed significantly higher likelihood of experiencing nine (arthritis, asthma, back pain, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart problems, hypertension, neck pain, obesity), compared to CCWAA. Caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) showed significantly higher likelihoods of experiencing two physical health problems compared to CCWAA. The decision tree analysis revealed that age (> 42 years), and suboptimal sleep behaviour (not 7-8 hours), and smoking (current smoker) were the frequent predictors for physical health problems in CCAA.
Conclusion:
The results of the current study represent an important milestone in further investigating physical health problems in CCAA.
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