The effect of social activities on the alienation and family resilience of Chinese caregivers for children with autism: a latent class analysis

Introduction: Caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in China often experience alienation due to societal stigma. While this alienation detrimentally impacts their mental well-being, family resilience serves as a protective factor. Previous research has predominantly examined the social support derived from social activities but has neglected to delve into the specific patterns of these activities. The primary objective of this study was twofold: firstly, to gain insights into the various social activities engaged in by caregivers of children with autism in China, and secondly, to ascertain the influence of these social activities on alienation and family resilience. Methods: Between June and August 2023, a cross-sectional survey was carried out across multiple cities in Jilin Province, aiming to gather data from a total of 205 Chinese caregivers of children with autism. Data collection was conducted through the utilization of a structured questionnaire. The assessment of social activity involved the completion of 12 questionnaires, while alienation was evaluated using the Generalized Alienation Scale (GSAS), and family resilience was gauged through the Chinese version of the Family Resilience Scale (FaRE). The classification of social activities was conducted through latent class analysis (LCA), while the impact of these social activities on alienation and family resilience was examined using linear regression analysis. Results: The findings revealed that social activities can be categorized into five types (Low, Self-Recreation, Communication, Web Surfing, High). Communication social activities were found to reduce family resilience(beta=.332, p<0.01), while high social activities were associated with reduced alienation(beta=-.349, p<0.05) and increased family resilience(beta=.417, p<0.01). Conclusion: Supporting these particular types of social activities has the potential to reduce alienation and bolster family resilience among caregivers for children with autism in China.