Kevin Ka Shing Chan1, Chun Bun Lam2, Naska Chung Wa Law3, Ryan Yat Ming Cheung4. 1. Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: kkschan@eduhk.hk. 2. Department of Early Childhood Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Centre for Child and Family Science, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. 3. Department of Childcare, Elderly and Community Services, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, Hong Kong. 4. Society for the Welfare of the Autistic Persons, Hong Kong; Educational Psychology Service, Social Services Department, Po Leung Kuk, Hong Kong.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety are prevalent among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but limited research has investigated why parenting a child with ASD is associated with elevated distress and increased risks of mental health problems. We responded to this gap in the literature by examining the associations between child autistic symptoms and parental affective symptoms, as well as the potential underlying mechanisms. Guided by a family process theory, we hypothesized that child autistic symptoms would be positively associated with parental depressive and anxiety symptoms, and that these associations would be mediated by parents' concerns about their children's characteristics (future-related worry), parental roles (parenting stress), marital relationships (marital conflicts), and family conditions (family economic pressure). METHODS: Cross-sectional questionnaire data were collected from 375 parents of children with ASD residing in Hong Kong, China. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Child autistic symptoms were positively associated with parental depressive and anxiety symptoms. These associations were mediated by future-related worry, parenting stress, marital conflicts, and family economic pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed the potential pathways through which child autism symptomatology may adversely affect parental mental health. Our findings also highlighted the importance of designing multipronged intervention programs for families raising children with ASD in order to improve relevant family processes and reduce parental affective symptoms.
BACKGROUND:Depression and anxiety are prevalent among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but limited research has investigated why parenting a child with ASD is associated with elevated distress and increased risks of mental health problems. We responded to this gap in the literature by examining the associations between childautistic symptoms and parental affective symptoms, as well as the potential underlying mechanisms. Guided by a family process theory, we hypothesized that childautistic symptoms would be positively associated with parental depressive and anxiety symptoms, and that these associations would be mediated by parents' concerns about their children's characteristics (future-related worry), parental roles (parenting stress), marital relationships (marital conflicts), and family conditions (family economic pressure). METHODS: Cross-sectional questionnaire data were collected from 375 parents of children with ASD residing in Hong Kong, China. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. RESULTS:Childautistic symptoms were positively associated with parental depressive and anxiety symptoms. These associations were mediated by future-related worry, parenting stress, marital conflicts, and family economic pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed the potential pathways through which childautism symptomatology may adversely affect parental mental health. Our findings also highlighted the importance of designing multipronged intervention programs for families raising children with ASD in order to improve relevant family processes and reduce parental affective symptoms.
Authors: Anna M Bujnowska; Celestino Rodríguez; Trinidad García; Débora Areces; Nigel V Marsh Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-02-25 Impact factor: 3.390