Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the mental health of many people, especially those with pre-existing mental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). Previous studies have shown that adults with ASD and ID experienced more anxiety, stress, and behavioral problems during the pandemic. However, little is known about the factors that could protect them from the emotional impact of the pandemic. This study aimed to identify the protective factors for adults with ASD and ID against the emotional impact of the pandemic, using social communication, quality of life, and anxiety as explanatory variables.
Methods
The study involved 60 adults with ASD and ID who participated in a previous study before the pandemic. They were assessed again after the pandemic using the following measures:
- The Emotional Impact of the Pandemic Scale (EIPS), which evaluates the emotional impact of the pandemic on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much).
- The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), which measures the communication skills of people with ASD, using two subscales: communication writing and communication speaking.
- The Personal Well-being Index (PWI), which measures the quality of life of people with ID, using eight domains: standard of living, health, achievements, relationships, safety, community, future security, and spirituality.
- The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), which measures the anxiety levels of people with ID, using two subscales: state anxiety and trait anxiety.
The researchers used correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis to examine the relationships between the study variables and the emotional impact of the pandemic.
Results
The results showed that the emotional impact of the pandemic was positively correlated with state anxiety and trait anxiety, and negatively correlated with communication writing, leisure socialization, and the well-being index. The multiple regression analysis revealed that communication writing, leisure socialization, and the well-being index explained 31% of the variance in the emotional impact of the pandemic. However, only the well-being index contributed significantly to the model, indicating that higher quality of life was associated with lower emotional impact of the pandemic. The other variables did not have a significant effect on the emotional impact of the pandemic.
Discussion
The study found that quality of life was the only protective factor for adults with ASD and ID against the emotional impact of the pandemic. This suggests that improving the quality of life of this population could help them cope better with future health crises and stressful situations. The study also found that social communication and anxiety did not have a significant effect on the emotional impact of the pandemic, contrary to previous studies. This could be due to the small sample size, the heterogeneity of the population, or the different measures used. The study has some limitations, such as the lack of a control group, the self-report nature of the measures, and the possible confounding factors that were not controlled for. Therefore, more research is needed to confirm and extend the findings of this study.
Conclusion
The study concluded that quality of life was the only protective factor for adults with ASD and ID against the emotional impact of the pandemic. This finding should guide future psychoeducational interventions and services for this population, aiming to enhance their well-being and resilience. The study also highlighted the need for more research on the mental health of adults with ASD and ID, especially during and after health crises and stressful situations.
Faq
What is the difference between ASD and ID?
ASD is a developmental disorder that affects social communication and behavior, causing difficulties in social interaction, communication, and restricted or repetitive interests and activities. ID is a disorder that affects intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, causing limitations in cognitive abilities, such as reasoning, learning, and problem-solving, and in practical skills, such as daily living, social, and communication skills.
What is the difference between state anxiety and trait anxiety?
State anxiety is a temporary and situational feeling of nervousness, worry, or fear that is triggered by a specific event or circumstance, such as taking a test, giving a speech, or facing a threat. Trait anxiety is a stable and enduring personality characteristic that reflects a general tendency to experience anxiety across different situations and contexts, regardless of the presence or absence of a specific stressor.
What is the difference between communication writing and communication speaking?
Communication writing and communication speaking are two subscales of the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), which measures the communication skills of people with ASD. Communication writing assesses the ability to write and read words, sentences, and stories, as well as to use written communication for different purposes, such as expressing feelings, asking questions, or making requests. Communication speaking assesses the ability to speak and understand spoken language, as well as to use verbal communication for different purposes, such as initiating and maintaining conversations, making jokes, or telling stories.
What is the difference between the well-being index and the quality of life?
The well-being index and the quality of life are two related but distinct concepts that measure the subjective evaluation of one’s life. The well-being index is a specific measure of the quality of life of people with ID, which uses eight domains: standard of living, health, achievements, relationships, safety, community, future security, and spirituality. The quality of life is a broader and multidimensional concept that encompasses various aspects of one’s life, such as physical, mental, social, and environmental well-being, as well as personal values, goals, and satisfaction.
What is the difference between the emotional impact of the pandemic and the emotional well-being?
The emotional impact of the pandemic and the emotional well-being are two related but distinct concepts that measure the affective state of one’s life. The emotional impact of the pandemic is a specific measure of the emotional well-being of people with ASD and ID, which evaluates how much the pandemic has affected their emotions, such as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, or boredom. The emotional well-being is a broader and more stable concept that reflects the overall balance of positive and negative emotions that one experiences in their life, as well as their sense of meaning and purpose.
How can social communication skills help adults with ASD and ID cope with the pandemic?
Social communication skills can help adults with ASD and ID cope with the pandemic by enabling them to express their feelings, needs, and concerns, as well as to seek and receive support from others. Social communication skills can also help them to understand and follow the health guidelines and restrictions, as well as to adapt to the changes and challenges that the pandemic has brought to their daily lives. Social communication skills can also facilitate their social interaction and participation, which can enhance their sense of belonging and social inclusion.
How can anxiety levels affect the emotional impact of the pandemic?
Anxiety levels can affect the emotional impact of the pandemic by increasing the perception of threat, uncertainty, and loss of control, as well as by impairing the coping and problem-solving abilities. Anxiety levels can also affect the emotional impact of the pandemic by triggering negative emotions, such as fear, worry, nervousness, or panic, as well as by interfering with the positive emotions, such as happiness, joy, or gratitude. Anxiety levels can also affect the emotional impact of the pandemic by reducing the motivation and engagement in meaningful and enjoyable activities, as well as by affecting the physical and mental health.
How can quality of life protect adults with ASD and ID from the emotional impact of the pandemic?
Quality of life can protect adults with ASD and ID from the emotional impact of the pandemic by enhancing their satisfaction and fulfillment with various aspects of their life, such as their living conditions, health, achievements, relationships, safety, community, future, and spirituality. Quality of life can also protect adults with ASD and ID from the emotional impact of the pandemic by fostering their resilience and self-efficacy, as well as by providing them with a sense of meaning and purpose. Quality of life can also protect adults with ASD and ID from the emotional impact of the pandemic by promoting their positive emotions, such as happiness, joy, or gratitude, as well as by buffering their negative emotions, such as sadness, anger, or fear.
How can the emotional impact of the pandemic affect the functioning and development of adults with ASD and ID?
The emotional impact of the pandemic can affect the functioning and development of adults with ASD and ID by impairing their cognitive, behavioral, and social skills, as well as by exacerbating their core symptoms of the disorder. The emotional impact of the pandemic can also affect the functioning and development of adults with ASD and ID by increasing their risk of developing mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. The emotional impact of the pandemic can also affect the functioning and development of adults with ASD and ID by hindering their opportunities and outcomes in various domains of life, such as education, employment, health, or social inclusion. [10]
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