Network analysis of the care burdens and psychological symptoms experienced by caregivers of preschool children with autism

Objective: To investigate the network structure of psychological symptoms among caregivers of preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as the psychological symptom networks at different levels of care burden. Methods: Using convenience sampling, 224 caregivers of preschool children with ASD who received treatment in three hospitals in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, from December 2023 to December 2024, were selected as study participants. Questionnaires were administered to these participants using the Caregiver Burden Scale and the Symptom Checklist. The psychological symptom network among caregivers of preschool children with ASD was analyzed through this research approach.