Child behaviour problems and partner mental health as correlates of stress in mothers and fathers of children with autism
Abstract
Background Previous research has suggested that the mothers and fathers of children with disabilities experience stress differently. Although there has been a great deal of research exploring how children affect parents, there have been many fewer studies of the interrelationships between mothers’ and fathers’ psychological well‐being. Methods Eighteen married couples who were the parents of children with autism reported on their stress and their general mental health (i.e. anxiety and depression). Teachers rated the behaviour problems of the children with autism. Results Mothers and fathers did not differ in their levels of stress and depression, but mothers reported more anxiety than fathers. Partial correlation analyses revealed that child behaviour problems and fathers’ mental health were associated with mothers’ stress. However, neither child behaviour problems or mothers’ mental health was associated with fathers’ stress. Conclusions Although requiring replication, the results suggest that stress in mothers of children with disabilities may be affected by the psychological health of other family members, whereas fathers’ stress is affected more by other factors. Methodological and conceptual issues, and the practical implications of these results are discussed.
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Stressors also include either no partner present or a partner who also has considerable mental health needs.
“and either no partner present or a partner who also has considerable mental health needs (Hastings 2003;Hastings et al. 2005b).”
From Psychological acceptance mediates the impact of the behaviour problems of children with intellectual disability on fathers' psychological adjustment. (2010) · cites this paper as Hastings 2003
Previous research with mothers and fathers of children with developmental disability has shown that the HADS maintains good reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficients in excess of 0.80) within these populations.
“Previous research with mothers and fathers of children with developmental disability has shown that the HADS maintains good reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficients in excess of 0.80) within these populations (Hastings 2003;Hastings et al. 2006).”
From Psychological acceptance mediates the impact of the behaviour problems of children with intellectual disability on fathers' psychological adjustment. (2010) · cites this paper as Hastings 2003
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The impact of behaviour problems on caregiver stress in young people with autism spectrum disorders
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“Other studies indicate that behavior problems in youth with ASD also predict the level of maternal anxiety and stress experienced [18, 19], as well as maternal mood disorders and depression [20–23].”
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Family characteristics and children’s receipt of autism services in low-resourced families
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- Authors
- Hastings, R. P.
- Affiliations
- Bangor University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Hastings, R. P.
- ORCID
- Hastings, R. P.
- Venue
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2003-05
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 4-5
- Pages
- 231-237
- ISSN
- 0964-2633 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2788
- OpenAlex
- W2165268726
- Cited by
- 538
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 32 · 2012: 35
- FWCI
- 9.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
- University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family Caregiving in Mental Illness
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, parental stress, child behavior problems, maternal mental health, paternal mental health, anxiety, depression, parents, couples, children with disabilities, family mental health
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety, Autistic Disorder, Child, Child Behavior Disorders, Depression, Fathers, Female, Humans, Male, Mothers, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Spouses
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