Odhiambo, Oscar2024-04-302024-04-302023-10Odhiambo, O., (2023). An Assessment of Burden of Care for Parents of Autistic Children and Their Coping Strategies: A Case of Selected Groups in Nairobi County, Kenya: Daystar University, School of Applied Human Scienceshttps://repository.daystar.ac.ke/handle/123456789/4293MASTER OF ARTS In Counselling PsychologyAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents numerous challenges not only to the persons living with the disorder, but also to the people around them like the family and society. The purpose of this study was to investigate the burden of care experienced by parents of children who were members of select groups within Nairobi County Kenya; the Autism Society of Kenya (ASK) and Differently Talented Society of Kenya (DTSK), and their coping strategies. The study aimed at assessing the level of burden of care faced by these caregivers, the gender differences in the experience of the psychosocial challenges, to analyse the coping strategies the parents employed and to assess the factors that contributed to the burden of care among these parents. The study adopted the Kubler-Ross Model of stages of grief and the psychoanalytic coping theories. A sample of 60 parents of autistic children was recruited into the study. The study adopted a descriptive research study that employed a mixed method design. Data was gathered using a social demographic questionnaire, Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) and the Brief Cope Inventory. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21.0), descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Parents showed a significant time dependency, developmental and physical burdens, female caregivers were more burdened than male, there was a significant relationship between gender and avoidance and problem focus coping strategies. The study recommended emotional support, psycho-education and counselling programs for parents of ASD children. The study suggested further research on parents with grown up ASD children, and ASD children and their coping strategies.enBurden of CareAttention Deficit/Hyperactive DisorderAutism Spectrum DisorderPervasive Developmental DisorderAutism Society of KenyaDifferently Talented Society of KenyaThesis