Parenting in families of school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder: An observational study

Aim: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face specific challenges in parenting. They often have to fulfill multiple and demanding parental roles. Nevertheless, research investigating the behavioral aspects of parenting children with ASD is scarce. The current study aims to characterize parenting behaviors among parents of children with ASD, and to explore whether parenting behaviors are associated with specific child characteristics. Method: Data were collected from 30 mothers and their school-aged child with ASD, and a matched control sample of mothers and their typically developing child. Parenting behaviors were examined in the home situation, by unstructured and structured tasks. The coding system contained seven general parenting dimensions and four scales to measure maternal autonomy support. Several child characteristics were measured through questionnaires and individual assessments. Results: Preliminary results indicate that mothers of children with ASD (n = 24) differ significantly on three parenting domains compared to the control group. They obtained lower scores on Warmth and Provision of Structure, and higher scores on Negativity. Conclusion: Both similarities and differences seem to be present in parenting behaviors between mothers of a child with or without ASD. In further analyses, associations with child characteristics will be explored.status: publishe