Disability Scoop, an on-line source of news on disability issues, reports that a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders has found that mothers of autistic adolescents and adults have stress hormone levels consistent with soldiers in combat.
Researchers also found that:
- Autism moms spend significantly more time care giving than moms of those without disabilities.
- On any given day they are twice as likely to be tired and three times as likely to have experienced a stressful event.
- These moms were interrupted at work on one out of every four days compared to less than one in 10 days for other moms.
- On a day-to-day basis, the moms experienced more stressful events and have less time for themselves compared to the average American mother.
On the bright side, the autism moms were just as likely to have positive experiences each day, volunteer or support their peers as those whose children have no developmental disability. I assume this occurs after the moms' antidepressants kick in.
In conclusion, we really need to do more to support autism moms.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Just file this away under "Duh".
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