Abstract
The present study investigated the mediating role of behavioral difficulties, coping strategies, and social functional support in the relationship between symptoms severity and parenting stress in mothers of children with ASD (autism spectrum disorder). The parenting stress questionnaire, coping orientation to problems experienced scale, strengths and difficulties questionnaire, and Duke-UNC social support questionnaire were administered to 52 mothers, who also estimated the ASD severity symptoms of their children. Correlation analyses revealed that parenting stress was positively correlated with the children’s ASD symptoms and behavioral problems. On the other hand, parenting stress was negatively correlated with the engagement coping and social functional support reported by the mothers. Multiple mediation analysis indicated that engagement coping and behavioral difficulties were significant mediators in the relationship between ASD symptoms and parenting stress, with the engagement variable having a larger effect. The findings illustrate the need to promote the mothers’ engagement coping orientation and the application of behavioral strategies with their children to help them to buffer the impact of stress.
Highlights
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is considered a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent alterations in communication and social interaction and by the presence of stereotyped patterns of behavior, activities, and interests (American Psychiatric Association, 2013)
The first was to analyze the relationships between parenting stress in families with ASD children without intellectual disability (ID) and the severity of the ASD symptoms, behavioral difficulties, coping strategies, and social support
In a multiple mediation test, behavioral problems and positive coping strategies and social support were expected to emerge as significant mediators on the path between ASD symptom severity and parenting stress
Summary
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is considered a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent alterations in communication and social interaction and by the presence of stereotyped patterns of behavior, activities, and interests (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Many researchers have investigated the predictors of stress in parents of school-aged children with autism, linking crucial factors such as symptom severity and the child’s behavioral problems, social support, and parents’ coping strategies. Its main strength is that rather than examining child characteristics, parent resources, and parental stress in an isolated way, it provides an overarching framework that includes each of these fundamental characteristics This model enables us to analyze relationships among variables using multiple indicators and increase insight into the role of family resources that influence the family’s vulnerability to stress and its adaptation power. The first was to analyze the relationships between parenting stress in families with ASD children without ID and the severity of the ASD symptoms, behavioral difficulties, coping strategies, and social support. In a multiple mediation test, behavioral problems and positive coping strategies and social support were expected to emerge as significant mediators on the path between ASD symptom severity and parenting stress
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