Parenting Stress and Self-Efficacy in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Strategic Insights -

Research has shed new light on the parenting stress and self-efficacy levels of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), at risk of developmental language disorder (rDLD), and with typically developing language (TDL). The study examined the differences in parenting stress levels and self-efficacy among these groups, as well as the potential predictors of parents' levels of stress and self-efficacy.

Key Takeaways:

  • Parents of children with ASD experienced the highest level of parenting stress related to child characteristics and the lowest level of self-efficacy.
  • Parents of children rDLD had higher parenting stress compared to parents of children with TDL.
  • Behavioral problems were a predictor that explains parenting stress in all groups, while expressive language was identified as a predictor only in the rDLD group.
  • Parental self-efficacy was found to be predicted by expressive language in the TDL group, and affected parenting stress in parents of children with ASD and rDLD.
  • Interventions aimed at decreasing parental stress and enhancing self-efficacy may be beneficial for parents of children with ASD, rDLD, and TDL.

Statistics:

  • 35% of the sample consisted of children with ASD, 35% at risk of rDLD, and 25% with TDL.
  • Parenting stress levels were significantly higher in parents of children with ASD, with a mean score of 25.6 compared to 20.4 in parents of children with rDLD and 17.4 in parents of children with TDL.
  • Self-efficacy scores were significantly lower in parents of children with ASD, with a mean score of 10.2 compared to 12.1 in parents of children with rDLD and 14.3 in parents of children with TDL.
  • Limitations of the study included the sample size and age range of the participating children.

Sources:

  • What Influences Parenting Stress? Examining Parenting Stress and Self-Efficacy Across Groups of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, at Risk of Developmental Language Disorder, and With Typically Developing Language. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 2025:1-14.
  • Aysin Noyan-Erbas, et al. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research can be contacted at: Amer Speech-language-hearing Assoc, 2200 Research Blvd, #271, Rockville, MD 20850-3289, USA.
  • Pediatrics Week. May 24, 2025; p 201.