Parenting Behaviour Among Parents of Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Fortunately, theories about the causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have progressed from a psychogenic explanation to a more detailed understanding of the neurobiological basis of the disorder. However, the consequence of this evolution was that parenting behaviour among parents of children with ASD remained out of the picture and has never been properly investigated, notwithstanding the specific challenges that parents of children with ASD encounter in raising their children.

Objectives: This study’s main goal is to investigate parenting behaviour among parents of toddlers with ASD using two different measures. Firstly, we want to examine the structure and internal consistency of two questionnaires to measure parenting behaviour: the Parental Behaviour Scale – short version for toddlers (PBS; Van Leeuwen, Rousseau, Hoppenbrouwers, Wiersema, & Desoete, 2011) and a new scale to measure parenting behaviours potentially more specifically relevant to toddlers with ASD. We also want to compare general and more specific parenting behaviour among parents of toddlers with and without ASD (Study 1). Secondly, we want to gain insight into parenting behaviour by means of observations (Study 2).

Methods: For Study 1, the experimental group consisted of 41 mothers or fathers of a child with ASD between two and six years old. The control group consisted of 199 mothers or fathers of a typically developing child between two and six years old. For Study 2, the data collection in the experimental group is ongoing. The control group consists of 46 mothers of a typically developing child between two and five years old. We studied parenting behaviour in the home situation and made use of unstructured and structured play tasks. The coding system exists out of seven general parenting dimensions and four scales to measure maternal autonomy support.  

Results: Preliminary results of Study 1, based on the provisional scales of the questionnaires, showed higher mean scores for the control group for the general parenting scale ‘Discipline’ and for the new scale ‘Stimulating the development’. For the experimental group, higher mean scores were found for the new scale ‘Adapting the environment’. At the time of the conference, we will also have preliminary results of the observation study.

Conclusions: These studies are two of the first studies that investigate parenting behaviour among parents of a child with ASD by means of two different methods. A first indication was found that parents of toddlers with ASD report to adapt the environment more than the control group. Conversely, they report to stimulate the development of their child less. An important remark to make is that some items of this scale refer to skills that may be too difficult for toddlers with ASD. These studies will not only result in the development of new instruments to investigate parenting behaviour among parents with a child with ASD, but also in the development of instruments useful for the evaluation of prevention and intervention programs regarding parenting a child with ASD.