CHILD PROBLEM BEHAVIOURS IN ASD, OR ADHD CAREGIVERS 2 The Psychological, Endocrine, and Health Corollaries of Child Problem Behaviours in ASD, or ADHD Caregivers

Research has revealed a positive relationship between problem behaviours of the care recipient and psychological distress in the care provider. Rarely, however, have researchers assessed the relationship between problem behaviours of the care recipient and key physiological mechanisms, relevant for the physical health status of their caregivers. This study extends previous work by examining the psychological, endocrine, and health corollaries of child problem behaviours in parent caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Caregivers (n = 18) completed self report measures of psychological distress, child problem behaviours, and incidences of common health problems. To capture important parameters of the diurnal cortisol pattern, caregivers collected salivary cortisol at waking, 30 minutes post waking, 1200h, and 2200h on two consecutive weekdays. Findings revealed a positive association between caregivers’ perceived levels of stress and problems with child conduct behaviours. To the extent that caregivers reported more problems with child emotional and peer behaviours, they demonstrated flatter diurnal cortisol slopes, and reported increased frequencies of common health problems. The cortisol awakening response was also markedly diminished in caregivers that reported more problems with child hyperactivity behaviours. These findings have implications for interventions that aim to improve the psychophysiological well being of the caregiver through targeting the problem behaviours of the care recipient. CHILD PROBLEM BEHAVIOURS IN ASD, OR ADHD CAREGIVERS 3