Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Tolulope Osoba

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts children and adults. Comorbid conditions such as anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, and low socioeconomic status negatively impact health care quality in children with ASD. Missing from the academic literature is the quantification of the relationship between parental education and employment and health insurance coverage on the prevalence of comorbid conditions in children with ASD. The purpose of this cross-sectional quantitative analysis was to examine and quantify the relationship between parental education and employment, health insurance coverage, and the reporting of comorbid conditions (anxiety, depression, behavioral issues) in a nationally representative dataset. Using ecological systems theory as a theoretical framework, this study focused on identifying opportunities to help bring about positive social change. Here, secondary data from the National Survey of Children’s Health totaling 1,692 ASD records were analyzed through binary and multiple logistic regression to assess possible relationships. Mental health insurance coverage and parental education predicted a statistically significant association of 64% and a 31% odds of reporting comorbid conditions in ASD children, respectively. Accordingly, addressing comorbidities may reduce the psychosocial issues that affect children with ASD. Implications from this study pertain to the reallocation of resources and subsequent development of social programs, leading to positive social change for these communities and decreasing the number of children impacted with comorbid conditions.

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