Impacts of Autistic Behaviors, Emotional and Behavioral Problems on Parenting Stress in Caregivers of Children with Autism

Abstract

This study examined the effects of autistic behaviors and individual emotional and behavioral problems on parenting stress in caregivers of children with autism. Caregivers were interviewed with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale and completed the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Parenting Stress Index Short Form. Results revealed that caregivers of children with mild/moderate autistic behavior problems perceived lower parenting stress than did those of children with no or severe problems. In addition, prosocial behaviors and conduct problems respectively predicted stress in the parent-child relationship and child-related stress. The findings can provide guidance in evaluations and interventions with a focus on mitigating parenting stress in caregivers of children with autism.

Prosocial skills in young children with autism, and their mothers’ psychological well-being: Longitudinal relationships

“…In relation to the second limitation, mothers with a history of clinical depression have been shown to report lower levels of prosocial skills for their children, than children themselves would report (Hay & Pawlby, 2003). Prosocial skill levels in our participants were indeed significantly lower than those of typically developing children, and thus similar to previous findings (Horiuchi et al, 2014;Huang et al, 2014;Iizuka et al, 2010;Russel et al, 2012).…”

“…These findings are consistent with evidence from two cross-sectional studies that have shown children's prosocial skills (assessed by the SDQ) to predict independently maternal parenting stress in families of children with an ID (Beck et al, 2004) and families of children with autism (Huang et al, 2014). Results from the present study extend these findings to indicate that these effects are longitudinal and include aspects of maternal psychological well-being not directly related to parenting (i.e., broader psychological distress and overall life satisfaction).…”

“…This contrasts heavily with the volume of research on the association between environmental factors and ASD comorbid behaviors, such as behavioral and emotional difficulties. Some recent evidence in the ASD field indicates that parents of children with higher prosocial behaviors perceive their relationship with their child as less stressful (Huang et al, 2014). This mirrors findings of a negative association between parenting stress and prosocial skills in families of children with an intellectual disability (ID), such that increased prosocial skills are associated with lower levels of parenting stress (Beck, Hasting, Daley, & Stevenson, 2004;Neece & Baker, 2008).…”

“…Prosocial skills, as measured by the SDQ, have been found to be highly predictive of later ASD diagnoses (Goodman, Lamping & Ploubidis, 2010). The parent-rated prosocial skills scale of the SDQ has been used to assess prosocial skills among children with ASD in several other studies (Horiuchi et al, 2014;Huang et al, 2014;Iizuka et al, 2010;Russel et al, 2012). These studies have taken place across different cultural and socioeconomic contexts (Japan, Taiwan, UK) and they are consistent in showing that prosocial skills measured using the SDQ are lower among children with autism compared to typically developing children.…”

Coping and Well-Being in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

“…Individuals with ASD face daily challenges in multiple domains of their lives, including poor adaptive functioning, anxiety, hyperactivity, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors (Bauman 2010;Huang et al 2014;Peters-Scheffer et al 2012;Simonoff et al 2008;Wang et al 2011). Recently, studies have cited a rising trend in ASD prevalence worldwide, with increasing incidence of children with ASD in both Caucasian and Asian populations (Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention 2012; Elsabbagh et al 2012).…”