Parenting Stress and Social Style in Mothers and Fathers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Cultural Investigation in Italy and Japan

Michele Giannotti,Haruyuki Kojima,Sophia Marlene Bonatti,Simona De Falco,Sanae Tanaka

doi:10.3390/brainsci11111419

Michele Giannotti, Haruyuki Kojima + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111419

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Journal: Brain sciences	Publication Date: Oct 27, 2021
Citations: 18	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Trento, Kanazawa University

Abstract

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face unique challenges, which may affect parenting functioning. However, little is known about gender and cultural variations in parenting stress and styles in these families. The aims of this study were to investigate: (1a) the differences in parenting stress and (1b) social style between Italian and Japanese mothers and fathers of children with ASD; (2) the predictive role of culture, sociodemographic, and child’s characteristics on parenting stress; (3) the predictors of the social parenting style, including parenting stress dimensions. The study involved 92 Italians and 89 Japanese parents of school-age children (5–12 years) with ASD who completed the Parenting Stress Index and the Parenting Style Questionnaire. Results revealed that Japanese parents showed higher parenting stress and less engagement in social style than Italians. Across cultures, mothers used more social style than fathers. Being Japanese and having a child with greater ASD severity predicted higher levels of parenting stress. We also found that country, parent’s gender, and stress related to the dysfunctional interaction were significant predictors of parenting social style. Our findings highlight the importance of a cross-cultural approach to better understand the experiences and needs of mothers and fathers of children with ASD.

Highlights

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex life-long and early-onset neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent impairments in social communication and interaction across multiple contexts, as well as restricted and repetitive patterns in behaviors, interests, and activities [1]
Focusing on the first study aim, results of the two way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) (Country × Gender) revealed statistically significant differences in parenting stress based on country (F(3, 173) = 7.70, p < 0.001; Wilk’s Λ = 0.882, partial η2 = 0.12; whereas, no significant effect of parent gender and no interaction between country and gender were found
Univariate analysis showed a main effect of country on parental distress (F(3, 178) = 22.60, p < 0.001) and difficult child subscales (F(3, 178) = 6.99, p < 0.01) as well as on total stress scale, (F(3, 178) = 14.16, p < 0.001), with Japanese parents showing higher scores compared to Italian parents

Summary

Introduction

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex life-long and early-onset neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent impairments in social communication and interaction across multiple contexts, as well as restricted and repetitive patterns in behaviors, interests, and activities [1]. In light of these characteristics, both mothers and fathers of children with ASD could face unique challenges and parenting demands, bearing consequences on their psychological distress [2,3]. Higher parental stress and mental health problems in parents of children with ASD can pose further risks for parent–child relationships generating a cascade of adverse effects on parenting functioning [8,9]

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