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Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience posttraumatic growth (PTG). No study has investigated the moderating effect of social support and family function between symptom severity and PTG. The study aims to examine whether social support and family function moderate the relationship between symptom severity and PTG among parents of children with ASD. Using a cross-sectional design, a total of 385 parents of children with ASD were recruited from September 2019 to November 2020 by convenience sampling. Participants completed the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Social Support Rating Scale, Autism Behavior Checklist, and Family Apgar Index. Both social support (r = 0.354, p < 0.01) and family function (r = 0.379, p < 0.05) were significantly related to PTG. Although symptom severity was not significantly related to PTG (p > 0.05), social support moderated the correlation between symptom severity and PTG [β(SE) = À0.134 (0.719), p < 0.01, 95% CI = (À3.552, À0.723)]; the positive association was stronger for low social support [β(SE) = 0.145 (0.054), t = 2.675, p < 0.01, 95% CI = (0.038, 0.252)], while the negative association was weaker for high social support [β(SE) = À0.121 (0.051), t = À2.378, p < 0.05, 95% CI = (À0.221, À0.021)]. Family function did not moderate the relationship (p > 0.05). Higher social support appears to buffer the detrimental effect of symptom severity on PTG, and social support seems to be an important factor when delivering interventions aimed at decreasing symptom severity and improving positive growth.Lay Summary: Both social support and family function were positively associated with PTG. Providing sufficient perceived social support and enhancing family function promoted parents' positive psychological experience. Higher social support seemed to buffer the detrimental effect of symptom severity on PTG, and it could be an important intervention target for improving the psychological growth of parents of children with ASD.

AimsThe aims of the study were to describe coping strategies in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder at the early stage of diagnosis and to examine the predictive effects of parenting confidence and social support on coping strategies.DesignA descriptive cross‐sectional study.MethodsA convenience sample of 193 parents of children newly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in Guangzhou, China, were included from October 2020 to January 2021. The Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, Parenting Sense of Competence Scale and Social Support Rating Scale were employed for data collection. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses examined the relationship between coping strategies and the independent variables.ResultsThe mean positive coping strategies score was higher than the negative coping strategies score. Parenting efficacy, subjective support and support utilization predicted positive coping strategies, and parenting satisfaction was a protective factor against negative coping strategies.ConclusionParents tend to engage in positive coping at the early stage of diagnosis. Improving parenting confidence and social support might help parents adopt positive coping strategies and prevent negative coping.ImpactMore effective and long‐term support for families of children with autism spectrum disorder is expected. Interventions should be focused on enhancing parenting satisfaction and efficacy to employ positive coping strategies and decrease negative coping.Reporting MethodWe adhered to EQUATOR guidelines and reported results based on STROBE guidelines.Patient or Public ContributionNo patient or public involvement.