Psychological Issues Among Caregivers of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Scoping Review

Background: Caring for children with neurodevelopmental disorders can be challenging and is normally associated with a heightened risk of psychological challenges among caregivers. Objective: This scoping review aims to synthesize the existing literature on the prevalence and correlates of stress, anxiety, and depression among caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Methods: This scoping review was conducted following the methodological framework outlined by Arksey and O’Malley and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA-ScR) extension for scoping reviews. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Results: A total of 56 studies were included in this review. Factors associated with caregivers’ psychological issues include the age of the child, daily stress from own needs and the child’s care needs, and co-morbidity in the child. Articles utilized different screening tools and diverse diagnostic classifications to determine symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, leading to variations in prevalence estimates. The lowest prevalence of stress reported was 7.9%, while the highest reported caregiver moderate-to-severe stress was 94.6%. Similarly, the prevalence of anxiety and depression varied from 6.0% to 85.8% and from 5.2% to 85.1%, respectively. This substantial variability is likely attributable to the heterogeneity of assessment tools and inconsistencies in the use of classificatory terminology, such as “severe,” “clinical range,” and “high”, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Conclusions: Caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities experience an immense psychological burden. Expanding access to sustainable psychosocial and social protection interventions is a vital step toward improving their well-being. This will indirectly improve the overall outcomes for the children. Government and policymakers should prioritize the implementation of measures such as social support allocated to this cohort to enhance their quality of life and improve their overall well-being.