QoL and Stress in Parents of Children With Developmental Disabilities and Chronic Disease

Participants will be parents of children with a pervasive developmental disorder (autistic spectrum disorder), Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, diabetes mellitus type 1, asthma, and parents of healthy children (without difficulty and chronic disease - control group). The investigators will examine the level of stress and quality of life in parents of children with developmental and chronic illnesses, compared to parents of healthy children, adjusting for the effect of confounding factors. Data collection will be conducted using the questionnaire to assess personal quality of life, family quality of life, general and parental stress levels. Additionally, potential confounding or mediating factors will be measured and taken into account: stress resilience, cohesion, self-esteem, optimism, perception of happiness, stigmatization, depression, anxiety, sleep quality and parenting challenges. Also, socio-demographics parameters, short medical history, lifestyle habits and the perception of life difficulties will be assessed. The questionnaire will be filled by paper-pencil method with anticipated duration of about 45 minutes. The investigators will also measure several physiological indicators - salivary cortisol, heart rate variability, blood pressure and Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs). Saliva will be taken in order to analyze the cortisol level, using Salivette Sarstedt REF 51.1534.500. Participants will be taken five saliva samples during the day because of the physiological variability of cortisol (first one around 22:00 hours, second right after waking up, then 15, 30 and 60 minutes after awaking). Each subject will receive detailed instructions on how to take saliva, with written instructions. Thirty minutes before sampling, the subjects has to restrain from eating, drinking, smoking or brushing teeth. In case of acute illness, inflammation or disease in the oral cavity, the sampling will be delayed. After taking the sample, tubes will be stored in the refrigerator. In the laboratory, the sample will be centrifuged for two minutes to remove saliva from cotton, and saliva samples will be frozen. Cortisol analysis will be done using ECLIA (Electrochemiluminous Absorption Method). The electrocardiogram (ECG) will be recorded using the Medilog AR12 Plus Holter device, which will also be used to record heart rate variability (HRV) during 5 minutes. HRV will also be recorded using the Polar V800 (also during 5 minutes). Kubios software will be used for HRV analysis. AGE Reader, a non-invasive device will be used for measuring the autofluorescence in the skin, reflecting the level of Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs). Omrom M6 Comfort is an automatic device which will be used to measure blood pressure and pulse. Anthropometric parameters will be measured (body weight, height, neck circumference, waist and hip circumference). Statistical analysis will be carried out using statistical program MedCalc. Initial analysis of results will include analysis of the distribution of variables using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. If the distribution of numerical variables will be normal, parametric statistics will be applied. The confounding factors will be controlled by using appropriate statistical tests. Participation of parents in this study is voluntary. If a parent decides to participate in this study, the code will be assigned. In that way, all data, measured parameters, and saliva samples will be encoded, and the personal data of the respondents will be completely invisible. It will not be possible to identity an individual parent. All researchers must and will be protecting confidentiality of data.