No abstract

Objectives Parenting goals describe the outcomes that parents aim for when interacting with their child. They have received little attention in research with caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study explored different types (dimensions) of parenting goals reported by caregivers of children with ASD, investigated links between these parenting goals and child characteristics, and explored whether parenting goals were linked to reported use of particular parenting strategies. Methods Data from 161 caregivers of children with ASD aged 7–18 years revealed two goal dimensions: “Norm Adherence Goals” (i.e. the perceived importance of the child cooperating with the parent, respecting their authority, and behaving well in public); and “Autonomy Support and Relationship Goals” (i.e. the perceived importance of promoting the child’s resilience, wellbeing, and the quality of the parent-child relationship). Results Parents who reported that norm adherence goals were particularly important to them were more likely to endorse parenting strategies such as setting rules, using rewards, and giving punishments. These parents also reported using less “Accommodation” (e.g. making allowances for their child, being flexible, avoiding triggers). Autonomy support and relationship goals were very strongly endorsed by nearly all parents, and we therefore could not find strong links between the importance of these goals and parenting strategies. Conclusion These findings suggest that parenting goals might be importantly linked to parenting strategies and could be considered in personalizing interventions in clinical practice. Given that parents’ cognitions about their child’s behaviour and their role as parents likely interact with and influence their parenting goals, we argue that future research should investigate parenting goals, cognitions, and behaviours in parallel.

Well-being and parenting behaviours were studied longitudinally among mothers of younger siblings of children on the autism spectrum (‘siblings’; n = 81) and prematurely born children (‘pre-terms’; n = 40). Growth curves were modelled to investigate whether maternal well-being and group (siblings vs. pre-terms) were associated with (change in) reported parenting behaviours between 10 and 24 months of child’s age. As expected, we found more stability than change in parenting behaviours, and more similarities than group differences in parenting behaviours and maternal well-being. Both mothers of siblings and pre-terms reported more disciplinary behaviours when their child grew older, in line with general population findings. Initial levels of supportive behaviours were equally high among mothers of siblings and pre-terms, but mothers of pre-terms reported a further increase between 10 and 24 months while mothers of siblings reported stability. Contrary to our hypotheses, maternal well-being was not associated with any of the parenting behaviours. Despite well-being levels below the general population mean (primarily in the sibling group), mothers in our sample reported that they often used supportive behaviours. This is encouraging, as all children, but in particular a subgroup of children at elevated likelihood of autism who may be especially susceptible to their environment, benefit from supportive and responsive behaviours.