Marital Adjustment, Social Support, and Parenting-Related Stress in Mothers and Fathers of Preschool-Aged Children with Autism

Background: The associated adaptive, social, and behavioral challenges of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can impact family adaptability and functioning. Prior research assessing these variables has yielded mixed results, especially regarding marital adjustment. Some studies indicate worse marital adjustment in parents of children with ASD while others find similar levels of marital adjustment compared to controls. Evidence does suggest that parents of children with ASD experience high levels of parenting-related stress. There may be different ways in which marital problems, social support, and parenting stress impact mothers versus fathers.

Objectives: This study aims to (1) determine whether parents of children with ASD report worse marital adjustment and increased parenting-related stress compared with parents of children without ASD, (2) assess the relationship between marital adjustment and parenting stress, (3) assess the relationship between marital adjustment and social support, and (4) compare marital adjustment, parenting stress, and social support in mothers versus fathers.

Methods: Participants were 52 mothers and fathers of children with ASD and 25 mothers and fathers of children with developmental delays without ASD (DD). Mean age of children in the ASD and DD group was 44 months. Data from this study was collected during phase one of a larger longitudinal study that sought to identify early behavioral and biological predictors of outcomes in ASD. Marital adjustment was measured using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Parenting-related stress was assessed using the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress. Social support was measured using the Social Support Questionnaire.

Results: (1) Preliminary results suggest that parents in the ASD group report worse marital adjustment and higher parenting-related stress than parents in the DD group. (2) Worse marital adjustment was correlated with higher levels of parenting stress in both mothers and fathers in the ASD group. (3) For mothers in the ASD group, higher social support satisfaction was correlated with better marital adjustment but the relationship between number of supports and marital adjustment was not significant. For fathers in the ASD group, higher numbers of supports and greater satisfaction with these supports was correlated with better marital adjustment. Further analysis will explore the relationship between marital adjustment, social support, and parenting stress, and potential differences between mothers and fathers.

Conclusions: Parents of children with ASD appear to have worse marital adjustment and higher levels of parenting stress compared to parents of children with other developmental disabilities. Higher levels of parenting stress are associated with worse marital adjustment in mothers and fathers of children with ASD. Furthermore, if parents of children with ASD are more satisfied with their social support they are likely to report better marital adjustment. A greater number of supports appear to be related to better marital adjustment for fathers, but not mothers.