Open AccessWhat is Parental Stress Connected to in Families of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder? Implications for Parents’ Interventions
Author(s) -
Magda Di Renzo,
Viviana Guerriero,
Massimiliano Petrillo,
Federico Bianchi di Castelbianco
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of family issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.814
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1552-5481
pISSN - 0192-513X
DOI - 10.1177/0192513x211030735
Subject(s) - autism spectrum disorder , psychology , developmental psychology , intervention (counseling) , psychological intervention , distress , autism , clinical psychology , psychiatry
Raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be a very stressful experience, impacting parents and their ability to take care of their child. We examined the relationship between parenting stress and child, and parent and contextual factors in a sample of 61 families of children with ASD recruited in a centre for ASD assessment and treatment. Results showed that mothers had a higher level of stress related to their parental role when compared to fathers. Data also showed the importance of considering the specific role of parental emotion regulation, family functioning and educational level in influencing maternal stress and the specific role of couple adjustment in influencing fathers’ parental distress. This study pointed out the importance of employing a vision that embraces different domains of family life in cases of children with ASD and in parents’ intervention programmes because these factors may contribute to parental stress.