Moderators of Stress in Parents of Children with Autism

Parents of children with autism experience more stress and are more susceptible to negative outcomes than parents of children with other disabilities. The present work examines the relationship between stressors, social support, locus of control, coping styles, and negative outcomes (depression, social isolation, and spousal relationship problems) among parents of children with autism. Fifty-eight parents completed surveys. Results indicated that several coping styles corresponded to negative outcomes. Furthermore, the relationship between stressors and negative outcomes was moderated by social support and coping style. Results are discussed in relation to applications for clinical practice.