Purpose
The Life Transition Scale (LTS) consists of 24 items that assess the life transition process of parents of autistic children. This study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the LTS in parents of children with a wide spectrum of disabilities.
Methods
Data were collected from 260 parents of children with disabilities through self-report questionnaires. Validity was examined using exploratory and confirmative factor analysis to determine the factor structures of the LTS; socio-demographic differences in LTS scores were examined using the t-test or ANOVA. Reliability was examined using Cronbach's ⍺ coefficient.
Results
A four-factor structure was validated (x²=640.0, p<.001, GFI=.81, RMSEA=.07, NNFI=.89, CFI=.89, PNFI=.74, Q [x²/df]=2.60). The validity of the LTS was verified by exploratory factor analysis, with factor loading ranging from .30 to .80. There were significant differences in the accepting phase according to children's and parents' age and the type of disability, and in the wandering phase according to parental gender, educational level, job, and socioeconomic status. The Cronbach's ⍺s for the reliability of each of the four structures were acceptable, within a range of .80~.90.
Conclusion
The LTS is a valid and reliable measurement to assess the life transition process of parents with disabled children.

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the association between each phase of the Life Transition Process (LTP) and depressive symptoms among parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Methods
Using a cross-sectional study design, data pertaining to LTP and depressive symptoms were collected from 285 parents of children with ASD (101 fathers and 184 mothers). Participants were recruited through the Autism Society of Korea and a counseling center for families of children with ASD.
Results
Using a cut-off point of 5 or higher on the Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form, more than half of the parents (53.4%) were deemed depressed; these parents experienced moderate (27.4%) to severe (11.6%) levels of depressive symptoms. A hierarchical multiple regression using the socio-demographic characteristics of children and parents and each phase of the LTP as predictors, found that lower income (β=-.14, p=.007) and greater scores for the wandering phase (β=.59, p<.001) were significant predictors of greater levels of depressive symptoms.
Conclusion
These findings confirm the association between LTP and depressive symptoms for parents of children with ASD, who were found to have a greater risk of depressive symptoms during wandering phase.

Citations

• Global prevalence of depression in caregivers of children with autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Xin Rong Lam, Ling Jie Cheng, Celest Su Yi Leo, Zheng An Toh, Hong-Gu He
  Journal of Pediatric Nursing.2025; 80: e74.     CrossRef
• An Integrated Review of The Factors Influencing Aggression in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
  Miran Jung, Yeong Seon Hong
  Journal of Korean Academy of psychiatric and Menta.2022; 31(2): 125.     CrossRef