Child behaviour problems moderate effectiveness of coping strategies except for reframing for mothers of children with ASD

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship between coping strategies and parenting stress, and explored whether child behaviour problems moderated any relationships. 311 mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), whose child had been diagnosed within the last three years, completed a set of questionnaires relating to coping strategies, parenting stress, their child’s behaviour problems, and their child’s autism severity. Use of reframing, passive appraisal, and seeking social support, coping strategies were all associated with lower parenting stress. There was no effect of seeking spiritual support, or mobilising the family to acquire or accept help. In addition, it was found that the severity of the child behaviour problems (itself associated with parenting stress) served to moderate the effectiveness of passive reappraisal and seeking social support. However, reframing was more successful in reducing parenting stress when the child behaviour problems were not severe.