For the realization of this research, a population of 101 participants aged between 18 to 65 years was included, among which 62.4% (63/101) were mothers, 29.7% (30/101) were fathers, 5.9% (6/101) were male caregivers, and 2% (2/101) were female caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Regarding the monthly income, 23.8% (24/101) of the respondents were in the minimum income group, while 76.2% (77/101) showed a non-minimum income. Regarding the marital status variable, 47.5% (48/101) of the participants were married, 28.7% (29/101) were in a domestic partnership, 19.8% (20/101) were single, 2% (2/101) were divorced, and 2% (2/101) were widowed. Finally, in terms of educational levels, 1% of the total sample had incomplete primary education, 4% (4/101) had completed primary education, 5% (5/101) had incomplete secondary education, 11.9% (12/101) had completed secondary education, 3% (3/101) had incomplete technical education, 7.9% (8/101) had completed technical education, 27.7% (28/101) had an incomplete university education, and 39.6% (40/101) had completed university education [see results in Table 1].
Table 1
Characteristics of participants enrolled in Fundación Luz y Esperanza and Centro de Atención Integral para la Discapacidad in Santiago de los Caballeros in the period October 2022-January 2023 (n = 101)
|
No. (%)
|
Sex
|
|
Female
|
69 (68.3)
|
Male
|
32 (31.7)
|
Role in the child's life
|
|
Mother
|
63 (62.4)
|
Father
|
30 (29.7)
|
Male caregivers
|
2 (2)
|
Female caregivers
|
6 (5.9)
|
Age
|
|
18 years
|
1 (1.0)
|
19–24 years
|
3 (3.0)
|
25–29 years
|
10 (9.9)
|
30–34 years
|
13 (12.9)
|
35–39 years
|
25 (24.8)
|
40–44 years
|
29 (28.7)
|
45–49 years
|
8 (7.9)
|
50–54 years
|
6 (5.9)
|
55–59 years
|
3 (3.0)
|
60–65 years
|
3 (3.0)
|
Marital status
|
|
Single
|
20 (19.8)
|
Married
|
48 (47.5)
|
Domestic partnership
|
29 (28.7)
|
Divorced
|
2 (2)
|
Widowed
|
2 (2)
|
Monthly income
|
|
Non-minimum income (≥ RD$ 9,000)
|
77 (76.2)
|
Minimum income (≤ RD$ 8,999)
|
24 (23.8)
|
Educational levels
|
|
Incomplete primary
|
1 (1.0)
|
Completed primary
|
4 (4.0)
|
Incomplete secondary
|
5 (5.0)
|
Completed secondary
|
12 (11.9)
|
Incomplete technical
|
3 (3.0)
|
Completed technical
|
8 (7.9)
|
Incomplete university
|
28 (27.7)
|
Completed university
|
40 (39.6)
|
Source: data collection instrument |
The most frequent signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression, exposed in the collection instrument used in this study, were weakness/tiredness in 52.5% (53/101) of the population, the urge to cry in 47.5% (48/101), and sadness in 45.5% (46/101). On the other hand, the least frequent sign or symptom of anxiety and depression was suicidal thoughts in 2% (2/101) of the population [see results in Table 2].
Table 2
Prevalence of signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression in parents of children enrolled in Fundación Luz y Esperanza and Centro de Atención Integral para la Discapacidad in Santiago de los Caballeros in the period October 2022-January 2023 (n = 101)
|
No. (%) a
|
Sweating
|
11 (10.9)
|
Trembling
|
7 (6.9)
|
Clumsiness
|
11 (10.9)
|
Increased heart rate
|
17 (16.8)
|
Weight loss
|
8 (7.9)
|
Fear
|
24 (23.8)
|
Sadness
|
46 (45.5)
|
Nervousness
|
28 (27.7)
|
Self-distrust
|
34 (33.7)
|
Digestive problems
|
17 (16.8)
|
Weakness/tiredness
|
53 (52.5)
|
Dizziness
|
5 (5.0)
|
Loss of sexual interest
|
24 (23.8)
|
Lack of appetite
|
13 (12.9)
|
Sleep problems
|
43 (42.6)
|
Difficulty in performing work or tasks
|
18 (17.8)
|
Difficulty making decisions
|
23 (22.8)
|
Loss of interest in others
|
17 (16.8)
|
Irritability
|
32 (31.7)
|
Urge to cry
|
48 (47.5)
|
Suicidal thoughts
|
2 (2.0)
|
Feelings of guilt
|
26 (25.7)
|
None
|
13 (12.9)
|
Source: data collection instrument |
Regarding the severity of anxiety, 48.5% (49/101) of the total participants presented a minimum level, 24.8% (25/101) had mild, 20.8% (21/101) had moderate, and 5.9% (6/101) experienced severe anxiety. On the other hand, concerning the severity of depression, 55.4% (56/101) of the total participants had minimal level, 21.8% (22/101) had mild, 17.8% (18/101) had moderate, and 5% (5/101) experienced severe depression [see results in Table 3]. Regarding the marital status variable and its relationship with the severity of anxiety and depression, the obtained results demonstrate that there is no statistically significant relationship between the marital status of the respondents and the severity of anxiety (P = 0.053). However, when relating marital status to the severity of depression, a significant p-value was observed (P = 0.044) (see results in Tables 4 and 5). Concerning sex and its relationship with the severity of anxiety and depression, the data obtained in this study showed that there is no statistically significant relationship between sex, anxiety (P = 0.284), and depression (P = 0.545) [see results in Tables 6 and 7].
Table 3
Anxiety and depression severity of parents of children enrolled in Fundación Luz y Esperanza and Centro de Atención Integral para la Discapacidad in Santiago de los Caballeros in the period October 2022-January 2023 (n = 101)
|
Anxiety
No. (%) a
|
Depression
No. (%) a
|
Minimum
|
49 (48.5)
|
56 (55.4)
|
Mild
|
25 (24.8)
|
22 (21.8)
|
Moderate
|
21 (20.8)
|
18 (17.8)
|
Severe
|
5 (5)
|
5 (5)
|
Source: data collection instrument (Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventory) |
Table 4
The severity of anxiety in relationship to the marital status of the participants enrolled in Fundación Luz y Esperanza and Centro de Atención Integral para la Discapacidad in Santiago de los Caballeros in the period October 2022-January 2023 (n = 101)
|
Minimum level of anxiety (≤ 7)
No. (%) a
|
Mild anxiety
(8–15)
No. (%) a
|
Moderate anxiety
(16–25)
No. (%) a
|
Severe anxiety
(26–63)
No. (%) a
|
Single
|
16 (32.7)
|
0 (0)
|
4 (19)
|
0 (0)
|
Married
|
15 (30.6)
|
17 (68)
|
12 (56.1)
|
4 (66.7)
|
Domestic partnership
|
14 (28.6)
|
8 (32)
|
5 (23.8)
|
2 (33.3)
|
Divorced
|
2 (4.1)
|
0 (0)
|
0 (0)
|
0 (0)
|
Widowed
|
2 (4.1)
|
0 (0)
|
0 (0)
|
0 (0)
|
Source: data collection instrument (Beck Anxiety Inventory)
Statistical test: chi square (p = 0.053)
a Percentage based on established anxiety severity.
Table 5
The severity of depression in relationship to the marital status of the participants enrolled in Fundación Luz y Esperanza and Centro de Atención Integral para la Discapacidad in Santiago de los Caballeros in the period October 2022-January 2023 (n = 101)
|
Minimum level of depression (≤ 13)
No. (%) a
|
Mild depression
(14–19)
No. (%) a
|
Moderate depression
(20–28)
No. (%) a
|
Severe depression
(29–63)
No. (%) a
|
Single
|
11 (19.6)
|
4 (18.2)
|
4 (22.2)
|
1 (20)
|
Married
|
23 (41.1)
|
10 (45.5)
|
14 (77.8)
|
1 (20)
|
Domestic partnership
|
20 (35.7)
|
6 (27.3)
|
0 (0)
|
3 (60)
|
Divorced
|
0 (0)
|
2 (9.1)
|
0 (0)
|
0 (0)
|
Widowed
|
2 (3.6)
|
0 (0)
|
0 (0)
|
0 (0)
|
Source: data collection instrument (Beck Depression Inventory)
Statistical test: chi square (p = 0.044)
a Percentage based on established depression severity
Table 6
The severity of anxiety in relationship to sex of participants enrolled in Fundación Luz y Esperanza and Centro de Atención Integral para la Discapacidad in Santiago de los Caballeros in the period October 2022-January 2023 (n = 101)
|
Females
No. (%) a
|
Males
No. (%) a
|
Minimum level of anxiety (≤ 7)
|
29 (59.2)
|
20 (40.8)
|
Mild anxiety (8–15)
|
19 (76)
|
6 (24)
|
Moderate anxiety (16–25)
|
16 (76.2)
|
5 (23.8)
|
Severe anxiety (26–63)
|
5 (83.3)
|
1 (16.7)
|
Source: data collection instrument (Beck Anxiety Inventory)
Statistical test: chi square (p = 0.284)
a Percentage based on established anxiety severity.
Table 7
The severity of depression in relationship to sex of participants enrolled in Fundación Luz y Esperanza and Centro de Atención Integral para la Discapacidad in Santiago de los Caballeros in the period October 2022-January 2023 (n = 101)
|
Females
No. (%) a
|
Males
No. (%) a
|
Minimum level of depression (≤ 13)
|
35 (62.5)
|
21 (37.5)
|
Mild depression (14–19)
|
17 (77.3)
|
5 (27.8)
|
Moderate depression (20–28)
|
13 (72.2)
|
5 (27.8)
|
Severe depression (29–63)
|
4 (80)
|
1 (20)
|
Source: data collection instrument (Beck Depression Inventory)
Statistical test: chi square (p = 0.545)
a Percentage based on established depression severity
In terms of the monthly income of the study participants and its relationship with the severity of depression, it was observed that there is a statistically significant relationship between the two variables (P = 0.049). However, when relating it to anxiety severity, no statistically significant results were evident (P = 0.601) [see results in Tables 8 and 9].
Table 8
The severity of anxiety in relationship to the monthly income of the enrolled in Fundación Luz y Esperanza and Centro de Atención Integral para la Discapacidad in Santiago de los Caballeros in the period October 2022-January 2023 (n = 101)
|
Minimum level of anxiety
(≤ 7)
No. (%) a
|
Mild anxiety
(8–15)
No. (%) a
|
Moderate anxiety
(16–25)
No. (%) a
|
Severe anxiety
(26–63)
No. (%) a
|
Non-minimum income (≥ RD$ 9,000)
|
39 (50.6)
|
20 (26)
|
14 (18.2)
|
4 (5.2)
|
Minimum income (≤ RD$ 8,999)
|
10 (41.7)
|
5 (20.8)
|
7 (29.2)
|
2 (8.3)
|
Source: data collection instrument (Beck Anxiety Inventory)
Statistical test: chi square (p = 0.601)
a Percentage based on established anxiety severity.
Table 9
The severity of depression in relationship to the economic status of the participants enrolled in Fundación Luz y Esperanza and Centro de Atención Integral para la Discapacidad in Santiago de los Caballeros in the period October 2022-January 2023 (n = 101)
|
Minimum level of depression
(≤ 13)
No. (%) a
|
Mild depression
(14–19)
No. (%) a
|
Moderate depression
(20–28)
No. (%) a
|
Severe depression
(29–63)
No. (%) a
|
Non-minimum income (≥ RD$ 9,000)
|
48 (85.7)
|
15 (68.2)
|
10 (55.6)
|
4 (80)
|
Minimum income (≤ RD$ 8,999)
|
8 (14.3)
|
7 (31.8)
|
8 (44.4)
|
1 (20)
|
Source: data collection instrument (Beck Depression Inventory)
Statistical test: chi square (p = 0.049)
a Percentage based on established depression severity