The importance of the concept of neuro-diversity for the authorship of the lives of people with autism spectrum

The subject of the study is the reflection on the phenomenon of neuro-diversity in people with ASD spectrum in the context of the concept of their own life authorship. Neuro-diversity means population differentiation of properties of the central nervous system which translates into cognitive and emotional differentiation of the population. The aim of the study is to review the literature on the relationship between authorship of one's own life, neuro-diversity and ASD spectrum disorders. The method used in this study is a literature review with special emphasis on Polish literature. The clinical picture of ASD spectrum is diverse. Among people with ASD there are both independent and those requiring 24-hour supervision. People with autism are said to be well and badly functioning. High-functioning individuals with autism are capable of self-determination as opposed to those with more severe autism who require care and community support. Among people with ASD, there is a large neuro-diverse clinical picture. A large proportion of people are capable of self-determination and of creating their own lives.Przedmiotem badania jest refleksja nad fenomenem neuroróżnorodności u osób ze spektrum ASD w kontekście koncepcji autorstwa własnego życia. Neuroróżnorodność oznacza zróżnicowanie populacyjne właściwości ośrodkowego układu nerwowego, przekładające się na zróżnicowanie poznawcze i emocjonalne populacji. Celem pracy jest przegląd literatury na temat związku, jaki zachodzi między autorstwem własnego życia, neuroróżnorodnością a zaburzeniami ze spektrum ASD. Zastosowaną metodą w niniejszej pracy jest przegląd literatury ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem literatury polskojęzycznej. Obraz kliniczny spektrum ASD jest zróżnicowany. Wśród osób z ASD są zarówno osoby samodzielne, jak i wymagające całodobowego nadzoru. Mówi się o autyzmie dobrze i źle funkcjonującym. Osoby z autyzmem dobrze funkcjonującym są zdolne do samostanowienia o sobie w przeciwieństwie do osób źle funkcjonujących, które wymagają opieki i wsparcia środowiskowego. Wśród osób z ASD istnieje duża neuroróżnorodność obrazu klinicznego. Znaczna część osób jest zdolna do samostanowienia i kreowania własnego życia

The Association between Depression and Perceived Stress among Parents of Autistic and Non-Autistic Children—The Role of Loneliness

Having an autistic child significantly impairs the functioning of the family, including the wellbeing of the parents. The aim of this study was to assess whether loneliness mediates the relationship between perceived stress and the severity of depressive symptoms in the studied sample of parents. This cross-sectional study involved 39 parents of autistic children and 45 parents of non-autistic children. They completed a set of tests: a survey on sociodemographic and clinical data and psychometric questionnaires, i.e., Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI), De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS), and Perceived Stress Questionnaire (KPS). A rise in external and intrapsychic stress, independently, was linked to a rise in the severity of depressive symptoms. The severity of depression, loneliness and stress was higher among parents of autistic children compared with parents of non-autistic children. Intrapsychic stress exhibited an indirect effect through loneliness on the worsening of depressive symptoms

Lonely in the City–Sociodemographic Status and Somatic Morbidities as Predictors of Loneliness and Depression among Seniors–Preliminary Results

Up to a third of the population of older adults has been estimated to suffer from feelings of loneliness, which is considered a risk factor of depression. The aim of this paper is to compare the perceived level of loneliness and depression in seniors living in the country and in the cities and assess somatic morbidity and sociodemographic status as predictors of loneliness and depressiveness. n = 92 older adults in primary care units filled out a set of questionnaires: authors’ survey on sociodemographic data and morbidities, Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI, to measure depressiveness) and De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS, to assess loneliness). There was a strong, positive and statistically significant correlation between the BDI and DJGLS scores (R = 0.855, p < 0.001). City residents had on average higher BDI and DJGLS scores. Linear regression models were constructed to predict BDI and DJGLS scores. The set of statistically significant predictors were similar for BDI and DJGLS. Sociodemographic status and somatic morbidities accounted for around 90% of variance of depressiveness and loneliness scores in the studied group. Living alone was found to be the strongest relative predictor of both loneliness and depressiveness in the studied sample of the older adults. Our current results suggest that there might be a need to improve social support in the late adulthood as an intervention to diminish the sense of loneliness and depressiveness