The Impact of Child Autistic Symptoms on Parental Marital Relationship: Parenting and Coparenting Processes as Mediating Mechanisms

Abstract

Research shows that parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with increased marital conflicts and reduced marital love. Less is known, however, about the potential mechanism underlying these associations. The present study tested a family process model linking child autism to parental marriage. We hypothesized that child autistic symptoms would be associated with increased marital conflicts and reduced marital love among parents of children with ASD, and that these associations would be mediated by parenting stress and coparenting conflicts. A total of 382 parents of children with ASD from Hong Kong, China completed questionnaire measures of child autistic symptoms, parenting stress, coparenting conflicts, marital conflicts, and marital love. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and Bootstrap analyses were conducted to analyze the relations among the variables. SEM showed that child autistic symptoms were related to higher levels of parenting stress and coparenting conflicts, which were, in turn, related to increased marital conflicts and reduced marital love among parents of children with ASD. Bootstrap analyses further demonstrated that child autistic symptoms had significant indirect effects on marital conflicts and marital love via parenting stress and coparenting conflicts. Theoretically, this study revealed the potential pathways through which child autism symptomatology may adversely impact the family processes and compromise the marital relationships of parents of children with ASD. Practically, this study pointed to the utility of helping parents of children with ASD to manage child autistic symptoms, alleviate parenting stress, and reduce coparenting conflicts in improving their marital qualities. Lay Summary This study showed that child autistic symptoms were related to higher levels of parenting stress and coparenting conflicts, which were, in turn, related to increased marital conflicts and reduced marital love among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These findings pointed to the importance of helping parents of children with ASD to manage child autistic symptoms, alleviate parenting stress, and reduce coparenting conflicts in improving their marital qualities. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1516–1526. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Parental relationship status and age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis of their child

“…The studies that have examined the biological parent’s relationship status among children with ASD have focused on divorce and separation, as well as the quality of the marital relationship (Freedman et al, 2012; Hartley et al, 2010). While the evidence is mixed in terms of whether parents of children with ASD are at increased risk for divorce or separation, it is clear that raising a child with ASD is associated with increased levels of stress, which, in turn, impacts the parental relationship (Chan & Leung, 2020; Huang et al, 2014; Lyons et al, 2010; Rao & Beidel, 2009; Wymbs et al, 2008; Yamada et al, 2007). To our knowledge, it is unknown if dissolution between a child’s biological parents—whether it is separation, divorce, or never being together—affects the timing of their ASD diagnosis.…”

Parental Self-Efficacy and Behavioral Problems in Children with Autism During COVID-19: A Moderated Mediation Model of Parenting Stress and Perceived Social Support

“…In the past, parents with higher stress had reduced tolerance and built an unsafe parent-child attachment relationship, leading to a greater risk of behavioral problems in children with autism. 25 During the COVID-19, parenting stress is more likely to be associated with behavioral problems in children with autism. 2 As discussed previously, the relationship between parental self-efficacy and behavioral problems in children with autism was indeed mediated by parenting stress.…”

“… 23 , 24 The model from Hastings and Brown 15 indicates that parenting stress mediates the relationship between behavioral problems and parenting practices. This means that less positive interaction 25 and more negative parenting strategies 26 may be especially common among parents who face an increase in behavioral problems in children with autism. When parental stress reaches a critical point, the impatience and negative behaviors of parents are transmitted to their children, resulting in increased behavioral problems and poor development for the child.…”

The moderating effect of financial stress and autism severity on development of depression among parents and caregivers of Autistic children in Taif, Saudi Arabia

“…[ 18 ] ASD in the child could cause marital disharmony and conflicts. [ 19 ] Notably, prenatal stress and marital conflicts are inter-related and bidirectional in terms of causation. [ 20 ] Finally, family economic pressures are likely to arise secondary to specific needs that are to be met for the ASD child.…”