Self-Care Practices and Their Association with Psychological Wellbeing among Mothers of Children with Autism in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often face diverse caregiving demands that may compromise their psychological wellbeing. However, existing evidence on the factors enabling some mothers to maintain positive psychological wellbeing amid prevailing challenges remains limited, especially in low- and medium-income countries. This study assessed the association between self-care practices and psychological wellbeing among mothers of children with ASD in Nairobi County, Kenya. A quantitative correlational design was employed among 148 mothers recruited through multistage sampling. Data were collected using the Self-Care Assessment Worksheet for Parents and Ryff’s Psychological Wellbeing Scale and analysed using SPSS version 28. Findings revealed that 57.4% of the respondents reported high self-care practices, whereas 39.2% and 3.4% reported moderate and low self-care, respectively. Psychological wellbeing was generally favourable (M = 165.98, SD = 7.26), with most mothers reporting moderate wellbeing. These findings suggest that, despite the prevailing challenges facing caregivers of children with ASD, many mothers were able to maintain adaptive self-care practices and positive psychological functioning. Self-care practices were positively associated with psychological wellbeing (r = .251, p = .002) and significantly predicted wellbeing, accounting for 6.3% of its variance. Household income emerged as the most influential socio-economic factor associated with self-care and psychological wellbeing. The study concludes that self-care contributes to psychological wellbeing among mothers of children with ASD, although the relationship is modest and influenced by broader socio-economic factors. The findings highlight the need to strengthen caregiver support services, self-care education programmes, and economic empowerment initiatives. Further, policies for improving access to autism services, social protection measures and financial support are critical to improve caregiver wellbeing and promote more sustainable ASD caregiving outcomes.