QUALIDADE DE VIDA DE MÃES DE CRIANÇAS DIAGNOSTICADAS COM O TRANSTORNO DO ESPECTRO AUTISTA

INTRODUCTION: The psychological and emotional well-being of a mother, especially one who has a child with special needs, can be greatly influenced by her quality of life (QoL). OBJECTIVE: To assess how the diagnosis of autism can impact the QoL of mothers of children with ASD. METHODOLOGY: To conduct an integrative review of the literature on the topic of quality of life and mental health in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, multiple databases were used, including PubMed, SciELO, and Lilacs. In addition, the Google Scholar search engine was also used. The search terms used were “Quality of life”, “Autism spectrum disorder”, and “Mental health”. The inclusion criteria for the articles were that they were freely available in Portuguese and published between 2020 and 2024. Duplicate articles were excluded from the review process. After a thorough screening process, the authors identified and selected 12 articles that met the criteria for inclusion in the sample table. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Research has shown that interventions aimed at improving the well-being of mothers of children with special needs, such as autism, can produce positive outcomes in terms of emotional well-being and overall quality of life. The daily trials and responsibilities faced by these single mothers often result in physical and mental exhaustion, leading to high levels of stress and a decreased quality of life. However, by implementing interventions that prioritize emotional well-being and provide mental health support, these mothers can experience a number of benefits, including reduced levels of stress, improved coping mechanisms, and improved emotional health. These improvements can have a profound impact on the overall well-being of these mothers and also positively influence the children in their care. CONCLUSION: Atypical mothers face several significant obstacles, including social judgment, juggling work and caregiving, financial difficulties, and a lack of support systems. However, there are strategies that can improve the lives of these mothers, such as establishing a support network, seeking professional assistance, and implementing effective time management and self-care practices.