Predictors of Parenting Stress in Children Referred for an Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Evaluation

Abstract

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report significantly higher stress than parents of children with other developmental disorders. Symptoms that overlap with the autism spectrum are often present in other developmental disorders, which could significantly increase parenting stress. Additionally, the severity of ASD symptoms within a group of children with ASD can greatly vary. In the present study, problem behaviors, cognitive and adaptive functioning, and parenting stress were examined in a group of 40 children aged 2-5 years who were referred for an autism evaluation. The children presented with varying levels of symptoms often associated with ASD, and some met criteria for an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. This approach allowed for both categorical and dimensional consideration of ASDassociated symptoms and the relation to parenting stress in children with and without autism. When examined based on ultimate clinical diagnosis of ASD or non-ASD, child behavior problems and parenting stress were similar across groups. Clinicianbased autism severity ratings (based on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) did not significantly predict parenting stress; however, parental report of the severity of ASD-associated symptoms (from the Social Responsiveness Scale) showed a significant relation to stress. Cognitive ability did not uniquely contribute to stress. Problem behaviors as assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist accounted for the largest proportion of the variance in parenting stress; adaptive behaviors and severity of parent-or clinician-rated autism-associated symptoms did not uniquely contribute above and beyond problem behaviors. Parents who reported more behavior problems or more autism-associated symptoms reported higher parenting stress. Clinical applications and the need for more research on parenting stress and problem behaviors in children displaying autism symptomatology are highlighted. J Dev Phys Disabil

The effect of training given to parents with mentally disabled children on their life satisfaction self-stigma of seeking help depression and stress-coping styles

“…Having a mentally disabled child in the family is a stressor that causes an emotional burden, a stressful life experience and requires continuous coping reactions to all family members (Ayyildiz et al, 2012; Gordeles-Beser & Inci, 2014; Yildirim-Dogru & Arslan, 2008). Having a mentally disabled child is a difficult life event with the need for development of existing coping skills and increased need for social support (Brei et al, 2015; Dardas & Ahmad, 2015; Gulsen & Gok-Ozer, 2009; Konukbay & Arslan, 2015; Kucuk & Kucuk-Alemdar, 2018; Singh et al, 2015). Difficulties in the increasing care needs of children with mental disabilities, difficulties in education needs, the insecurity of the future (Brei et al, 2015; Dabrowska & Pisula, 2010; Dardas & Ahmad, 2015; Gordeles-Beser & Inci, 2014; Gulsen & Gok-Ozer, 2009; Konukbay & Arslan, 2015; Kucuk & Kucuk-Alemdar, 2018; Lu et al, 2018; Singh et al, 2015) and the difference between healthy child expectation and reality increase the pain and emotional reactions of the family (Dabrowska & Pisula, 2010; Dardas & Ahmad, 2015; Gordeles-Beser & Inci, 2014; Lu et al, 2018).…”

“…Having a mentally disabled child in the family is a stressor that causes an emotional burden, a stressful life experience and requires continuous coping reactions to all family members (Ayyildiz et al, 2012;Gordeles-Beser & Inci, 2014;Yildirim-Dogru & Arslan, 2008). Having a mentally disabled child is a difficult life event with the need for development of existing coping skills and increased need for social support (Brei et al, 2015;Dardas & Ahmad, 2015;Gulsen & Gok-Ozer, 2009;Konukbay & Arslan, 2015;Kucuk & Kucuk-Alemdar, 2018;Singh et al, 2015).…”

“…Difficulties in the increasing care needs of children with mental disabilities, difficulties in education needs, the insecurity of the future (Brei et al, 2015;Dabrowska & Pisula, 2010;Dardas & Ahmad, 2015;Gordeles-Beser & Inci, 2014;Gulsen & Gok-Ozer, 2009;Konukbay & Arslan, 2015;Kucuk & Kucuk-Alemdar, 2018;Lu et al, 2018;Singh et al, 2015) and the difference between healthy child expectation and reality increase the pain and emotional reactions of the family (Dabrowska & Pisula, 2010;Dardas & Ahmad, 2015;Gordeles-Beser & Inci, 2014;Lu et al, 2018). At the same time, while trying to cope with the problems of children with disabilities, families are trying to fulfill the other tasks expected by the society (Ozmen & Cetinkaya, 2012).…”

The Mediating Role of Parenting Stress in the Relations Between Parental Emotion Regulation and Parenting Behaviors in Chinese Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Dyadic Analysis

“…Raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can exert tremendous stress on parents (Davis and Carter 2008) given that the core features of ASD include impaired social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors (American Psychiatric Association 2013). Numerous studies have demonstrated that these families experience more stress than families with typically developing children or children with other special needs (e.g., Brei et al 2015; Falk et al 2014). Although these findings are unsurprising given the chronic nature of the challenging behaviors associated with ASD, they emphasize the importance of identifying factors that may contribute to the stress that parents perceive and the degree to which such stress might affect their actual parenting behaviors (Hayes and Watson 2013; Keenan et al 2017).…”

Parenting Stress and Hypertension in Parents of Mental Retardation Children

“…Parents of children that diagnosed with behavioral disorders or developmental disabilities are at risk of parenting stress (Brei et al, 2015). Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders or developmental abnormalities reported had higher levels of parenting stress than parents of children whose development tended to be normal (Hutchison et al, 2016).…”