Coping Strategies as Mediators and Moderators between Stress and Quality of Life among Parents of Children with Autistic Disorder

Abstract

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine coping strategies as mediators and moderators between stress and quality of life (QoL) among parents of children with autistic disorder. The convenience sample of the study consisted of 184 parents of children with autistic disorder. Advanced statistical methods for analyses of mediator and moderator effects of coping strategies were used. The results revealed that 'accepting responsibility' was the only mediator strategy in the relationship between stress and QoL. The results also revealed that only 'seeking social support' and 'escape avoidance' were moderator strategies in the relationship between stress and QoL. This study is perhaps the first to investigate the mediating and moderating effects of coping on QoL of parents of children with autistic disorder. Recommendations for practice and future research are presented.

Quality of Life, Coping Styles, Stress Levels, and Time Use in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Comparing Single Versus Coupled Households

“…Parents of children with ASD develop more adaptable coping styles, such as acceptance over the years (Ooi et al, 2016), and the coping style of acceptance has been found to be a mediating factor between stress and QoL among parents of children with ASD (Dardas & Ahmad, 2015). Parents are able to deal with stressors in a practical manner by accepting situations (Marshall & Long, 2010).…”

Predictors of Cancer Awareness among Older Adult Individuals in Jordan

“…Awareness of factors that are related to cancer is considered vital to reduce the incidence of cancer diagnosis among such population. Many factors have been perceived by older adults as playing a critical role in cancer development that may include unhealthy food (Choe et al, 2006); smoking and excessive work and stress (Tawalbeh and Ahmad, 2013;Dardas and Ahmad, 2013). Additional factors may include age (Linsell et al, 2008); not attending regular screening (Akhtari-Zavare et al, 2014), not performing regular exercise (Robb, Miles, and Wardle, 2004) and having a family history (Valentinya et al, 2012;Raj et al, 2012).…”

Relationship between psychosocial factors and musculoskeletal disorders in footwear industry workers

“…The 'stress' was associated with the emergence of pain in some parts of the body in men, whereas the 'job dissatisfaction' factor was more strongly correlated with WRMD symptoms in women. This paper suggests that stress coping strategies are developed by the footwear industries focused on workers' emotions and work problem solving (Folkman & Moskowitz, 2004), as these variables contribute to the relief of emotional distress, accepting responsibility, self-control, escape strategies and identification of specifics stressful (Folkman & Lazarus, 1988;Dardas & Ahmad, 2015). As for 'job dissatisfaction' changes in the organizational climate of footwear industries may reflect on important improvements in this factor (Rueda et al, 2012), since studies in this industrial sector have demonstrated the suffering experienced by workers (Borsoi et al, 2009;Rigotto et al, 2010;Silva et al, 2017).…”