Mental Health of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Numerous international studies support the fact that parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at high risk of developing mental health problems, as they experience greater stress and are in poorer mental well-being compared to parents of neurotypical children or those with other disorders. The main aim of my research is to examine, in Hungary, the relationship between the subjective well-being of affected parents, their perceived social support and their coping strategies. The target group consists of adults who have at least one child under the age of 18 diagnosed with autism. The research questionnaire package includes a general set of demographic questions, a few items related to the child, as well as three standardised instruments: the Coping Style Preference Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Mental Health Continuum – shortened version. The results confirmed the hypothesis that self-punitive coping negatively affects subjective well-being and that social support acts as a mediating factor in this relationship. Furthermore, we found that the severity of the child’s autistic symptoms negatively predicts the parent’s mental health, although the presumed moderating effect of social support was not confirmed. Further studies are needed to explore which additional factors determine the mental health of parents of children with ASD in order to identify appropriate preventive strategies and strengthen interventions that promote adaptability in such challenging life situations.