Adaptation of Parents Raising a Child with ASD: The Role of Positive Perceptions, Coping, Self-efficacy, and Social Support

Higgins, Louise T.; Mannion, Arlene; Chen, June L.; Leader, Geraldine

doi:10.1007/s10803-022-05537-8

Cited by 21 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…Findings may well have been different if we had clearly distinguished commonly studied different dimensions of social support (e.g., instrumental or emotional support, Dunst, 1984; Shepherd et al, 2020). However, we did confirm (consistent with previous research in China; Ban et al, 2021) that parental perceived support is associated with parental psychological distress, suggesting that social support may serve a compensatory rather than a protective function (Higgins et al, 2023; Robinson & Weiss, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Perhaps regardless of nationality or culture, behavior problems of children with autism are a stable and important correlate of parental wellbeing (Čolić et al, 2022). Replicating findings from some previous studies in Western cultural contexts (Higgins et al, 2023; Robinson & Weiss, 2020), we found no evidence of a moderating role for parental perceived support in the relationship between child behavior problems and parental wellbeing as would be predicted by a stress‐buffering model of social support across cultures. One plausible explanation for the failure to find evidence of this buffering role may be the way that social support is conceptualized and measured.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Following a stress‐buffering model of social support (Cohen & Wills, 1985), parental perceived support may also mitigate the effect of stressors on parental wellbeing. However, there are mixed findings regarding whether parental perceived support serves as a moderator between child behavior problems and parental wellbeing (Halstead et al, 2017; Higgins et al, 2023). An association between parental perceived support and wellbeing has also been found in studies of Chinese parents of children with autism (Ban et al, 2021; Wang, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Child behavior problems and parental psychological distress in Chinese families of children with autism: The putative moderating role of parental social support and cultural values

Liu,

Thompson,

Gray

et al. 2024

Autism Research

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The wellbeing of parents of children with autism residing in mainland China remains understudied. We aimed to examine whether and how parental perceived social support, individualism, and collectivism acted together to moderate the relationships between child behavior problems and parental psychological distress in Chinese parents of children with autism. With convenience and snowball sampling, data on 268 primary caregiver parents of children with autism were collected from an online cross‐sectional survey. Linear regression analysis indicated that child behavior problems were significantly associated with increased psychological distress in Chinese parents of children with autism. There was no evidence to support the stress‐buffering model of social support in moderation analysis of the association between child behavior problems and parental psychological distress. Nonetheless, increased social support was associated with lower levels of parental psychological distress. Moderated moderation analyses did not support a role for individualism or collectivism as a moderator of the putative buffering role of social support. However, there was evidence that parental individualism was associated with increased parental psychological distress. Our findings highlight that child behavior problems are a robust correlate of parental psychological distress, and parental social support may act as a compensatory factor promoting less psychological distress rather than having a protective role. The role of social support and cultural values in the wellbeing of parents of children with autism in China requires additional exploration, including longitudinal research designs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Child behavior problems and parental psychological distress in Chinese families of children with autism: The putative moderating role of parental social support and cultural values

Liu,

Thompson,

Gray

et al. 2024

Autism Research

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“…Research shows that self-efficacy is positively related to several aspects of psychological well-being in a wide range of stigmatized groups (Denton et al, 2014; Tucker et al, 2014; Watson et al, 2007). There is also evidence that parental self-efficacy is an important resource to promote parental adaptation for parents of children with ASD (García-López, Sarriá, & Pozo, 2016; Higgins et al, 2023; Rezendes & Scarpa, 2011).…”

Section: Affiliate Stigma As a Parental Stressor (Factor Aa)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Affiliate stigma and marital satisfaction in Spanish parents of children with intellectual disabilities.

Molero,

Recio,

Sarriá

2024

Stigma and Health

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Parents tend to experience more stress when their children have intellectual disabilities (ID), and this stress often increases the frequency of family conflicts. Previous research has shown that disability in children negatively impacts marital relationships. The present study analyzes, with reference to the double ABCX model of family adaptation, the association between affiliate stigma (parents' internalization of the stigma borne for their children) as a stressor and the parents' marital satisfaction as an adaptation outcome variable, considering two mediating variables: parents' perceived social support and parents' self-efficacy. The study sample comprises 197 Spanish fathers (31%) and mothers (69%) raising children with ID. Most participants' children had been diagnosed with Down's syndrome (37.1%) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with ID (34%). Our study shows that, as predicted, affiliate stigma is inversely associated with marital satisfaction in parents of children with ID and that perceived social support and self-efficacy play a significant mediational role in this association. These findings may contribute to guiding practitioners and social services on how to enhance protective factors and mitigate risk factors influencing family adaptation. Clinical Impact StatementThis research shows the important impact of affiliate stigma on marital satisfaction of parents who have children with intellectual disabilities. Specifically, it examines whether social support and self-efficacy may serve as protective factors by preventing the negative consequences of parental affiliate stigma on marital satisfaction. Thus, the findings have implications for theory, research, and practice.

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“…from family and friends). Higgins et al (2023) suggested that social support can increase parental confidence when parents are trained in their role of parenting a child with ASD. Moreover, support from professionals and family exposing parents with the child's positive achievements can facilitate positive perceptions about their child with ASD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autism diagnosis experience and parental stress among Portuguese parents

Kulari,

Sarantakos Cordeiro

2023

AIA

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Purpose This study aims to examine the impact that diagnostic factors such as duration of diagnostic period, number of professionals consulted and perceived social support have on parental stress during the diagnostic process of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Design/methodology/approach Forty parents of 2–18 year-old children/adolescents with a formal ASD diagnosis recruited from five specialized private clinics in Lisbon completed a survey which included diagnostic questionnaire, parental stress scale and social support scale from April to December 2022. Findings Data analysis indicated that the mean age of the diagnosis was 5.6 years with a delay of 3.95 years from first concern until final diagnosis. On average, parents consulted a mean of 3.62 professionals. Other findings indicated that as age of parents increased, levels of parental stress decreased. Parents with higher levels of social support had lower levels of parental stress. Furthermore, higher age of child at first concern predicted higher affective social support. Originality/value This study reflects on the experience of obtaining the ASD diagnosis in Portugal, raising awareness on the importance of providing early detection and social support for distressed parents.

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Adaptation of Parents Raising a Child with ASD: The Role of Positive Perceptions, Coping, Self-efficacy, and Social Support

Cited by 21 publications

References 83 publications

Child behavior problems and parental psychological distress in Chinese families of children with autism: The putative moderating role of parental social support and cultural values

Child behavior problems and parental psychological distress in Chinese families of children with autism: The putative moderating role of parental social support and cultural values

Affiliate stigma and marital satisfaction in Spanish parents of children with intellectual disabilities.

Autism diagnosis experience and parental stress among Portuguese parents

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