Mother–Child Relationship Quality Among Adolescents and Adults With Autism

Abstract

The mother-child relationship in families of 202 adolescents and adults with an autism spectrum disorder living at home and its association with maternal caregiving gains and strains were examined. Findings indicate a wide range of variability in the quality of the mother-child relationship, although most were characterized as positive across multiple measures. Characteristics of the son or daughter with autism (less severe maladaptive behaviors, better health, and less social impairments) and characteristics of the mother (lower levels of pessimism) were predictive of more positive mother-child relationships. In turn, specific aspects of the mother-child relationship (greater positive affect and warmth), along with other child and maternal characteristics, predicted fewer maternal caregiving strains and, to a lesser extent, greater caregiving gains.