Stress and Coping in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Heightened levels of stress are observed in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), yet little is known about the relationship between stress and coping in mothers of children recently diagnosed with an ASD. The objectives of this study were to determine the levels of maternal stress, identify coping strategies used by mothers, examine the relationship between stress and coping, and ascertain whether coping mediated the relationship between ASD symptom severity and subsequent maternal stress. Data on 128 mothers of children who had received a diagnosis of ASD in the last four months were examined. Results indicated that mothers presented with elevated levels of stress. With regards to coping, escape-avoidance and confrontive coping were positively correlated with stress, while seeking social support was negatively correlated with stress. Confrontive coping did not mediate the relationship between ASD symptom severity and maternal stress. Results confirm previous findings, while underscoring the importance of helping mothers understand the relationship between the coping strategies they adopt and the subsequent stress they experience.