Parenting style and parent–child relationship: a comparative study of Indonesian parents of children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

There is evidence for different styles of parenting in different cultures. Authoritative parenting style has been found to be associated with optimum child outcomes in Western countries, while authoritarian parenting is preferred by Asian cultures. However, literature concerning parenting style and parent–child relationships in Indonesia is largely absent, whether for parents of typically developing children or children with a disability. As in most countries in the world, the rate of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Indonesia is increasing. This study aims to compare parenting styles, the parent–child relationship and social support in Indonesian parents of children with and without ASD. Based on literature from other countries, it was hypothesized that Indonesian parents of children with ASD would: be more authoritarian, report less positive parent–child relationships and report less social support than comparison parents. Surveys were completed by 101 parents of children with ASD and 101 matched parents of typically developing children. In line with hypotheses, parents of children with ASD reported that they were more authoritarian than parents of typically developing children, who were more authoritative in their parenting. In addition, parents of children with ASD reported higher levels of power assertion and lower positive qualities in their parent–child relationship than parents of typically developing children. Parents of children with ASD also received less support than the comparison group. This study provides an initial picture of parenting, the parent–child relationship and perceptions of social support for parents of children with and without ASD in Indonesia