Parenting a Child with ASD: Comparison of Parenting Style Between ASD, Anxiety, and Typical Development

Overview

Journal J Autism Dev Disord

Publisher Springer

Date 2017 Jun 22

PMID 28634706

Citations 14

Authors

Pamela Ventola

Jiedi Lei

Courtney Paisley

Eli Lebowitz

Wendy Silverman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Parenting children with ASD has a complex history. Given parents' increasingly pivotal role in children's treatment, it is critical to consider parental style and behaviours. This study (1) compares parenting style of parents of children with ASD, parents of children with anxiety disorders, and parents of typically developing (TD) children and (2) investigates contributors to parenting style within and between groups. Parents of children with anxiety had a distinct parenting style compared to ASD and TD parents. Unique relationships between child symptoms and parenting behaviours emerged across the three groups. Understanding factors that impact parenting between and within clinical groups can guide the development of interventions better tailored to support the needs of parents, particularly parents of children with ASD.

Citing Articles

AutInsight: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of a Consumer-Informed Parent Support Program for Parents of Autistic Children.

Lee J, Whittingham K, Mitchell A J Autism Dev Disord. 2025; .

PMID: 40016545 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-025-06764-5.

Differing relationships between parenting stress, parenting practices and externalising behaviours in autistic children.

Suvarna V, Farrell L, Adams D, Emerson L, Paynter J Autism. 2024; 29(3):711-725.

PMID: 39431633 PMC: 11894905. DOI: 10.1177/13623613241287569.

Relationship between Parenting Educational Styles and Well-Being in Families with Autistic Children: A Systematic Review.

Benseny Delgado E, Penate Castro W, Diaz Megolla A Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ. 2024; 14(6):1527-1542.

PMID: 38921067 PMC: 11202960. DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe14060101.

Clinical, socio-demographic, and parental correlates of early autism traits in a community cohort of toddlers.

Gale-Grant O, Chew A, Falconer S, Franca L, Fenn-Moltu S, Hadaya L Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):8393.

PMID: 38600134 PMC: 11006842. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58907-w.

Parenting Practices and Externalizing Behaviors in Autistic Children: A Systematic Literature Review.

Suvarna V, Farrell L, Adams D, Emerson L, Paynter J Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2024; 27(1):235-256.

PMID: 38407761 PMC: 10920481. DOI: 10.1007/s10567-024-00467-6.

References

BAUMRIND D . Child care practices anteceding three patterns of preschool behavior. Genet Psychol Monogr. 1967; 75(1):43-88. View

Holroyd E . Chinese cultural influences on parental caregiving obligations toward children with disabilities. Qual Health Res. 2003; 13(1):4-19. DOI: 10.1177/1049732302239408. View

Silverman W, Cerny J, Nelles W, Burke A . Behavior problems in children of parents with anxiety disorders. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1988; 27(6):779-84. DOI: 10.1097/00004583-198811000-00020. View

Harris M, Milich R, Corbitt E, Hoover D, Brady M . Self-fulfilling effects of stigmatizing information on children's social interactions. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1992; 63(1):41-50. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.63.1.41. View

van Steijn D, Oerlemans A, van Aken M, Buitelaar J, Rommelse N . Match or mismatch? Influence of parental and offspring ASD and ADHD symptoms on the parent-child relationship. J Autism Dev Disord. 2012; 43(8):1935-45. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-012-1746-y. View

Barber B, Olsen J, Shagle S . Associations between parental psychological and behavioral control and youth internalized and externalized behaviors. Child Dev. 1994; 65(4):1120-36. View

Falk N, Norris K, Quinn M . The factors predicting stress, anxiety and depression in the parents of children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014; 44(12):3185-203. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2189-4. View

Minjarez M, Williams S, Mercier E, Hardan A . Pivotal response group treatment program for parents of children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2010; 41(1):92-101. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-010-1027-6. View

Williams S, Dahan J, Silverman W, Pettit J . Heterogeneous classes of co-occurring externalizing symptoms in a sample of youth referred for anxiety disorders. J Anxiety Disord. 2013; 27(3):340-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.02.014. View

10.

Gengoux G, Berquist K, Salzman E, Schapp S, Phillips J, Frazier T . Pivotal Response Treatment Parent Training for Autism: Findings from a 3-Month Follow-Up Evaluation. J Autism Dev Disord. 2015; 45(9):2889-98. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2452-3. View

11.

White S, Oswald D, Ollendick T, Scahill L . Anxiety in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Clin Psychol Rev. 2009; 29(3):216-29. PMC: 2692135. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2009.01.003. View

12.

Coolican J, Smith I, Bryson S . Brief parent training in pivotal response treatment for preschoolers with autism. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2010; 51(12):1321-30. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02326.x. View

13.

Happe F, Ronald A . The 'fractionable autism triad': a review of evidence from behavioural, genetic, cognitive and neural research. Neuropsychol Rev. 2008; 18(4):287-304. DOI: 10.1007/s11065-008-9076-8. View

14.

Silverman W, Kurtines W, Jaccard J, Pina A . Directionality of change in youth anxiety treatment involving parents: an initial examination. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2009; 77(3):474-85. PMC: 2778202. DOI: 10.1037/a0015761. View

15.

Gau S, Chou M, Lee J, Wong C, Chou W, Chen M . Behavioral problems and parenting style among Taiwanese children with autism and their siblings. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2009; 64(1):70-8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2009.02034.x. View

16.

Green J, Charman T, McConachie H, Aldred C, Slonims V, Howlin P . Parent-mediated communication-focused treatment in children with autism (PACT): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2010; 375(9732):2152-60. PMC: 2890859. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60587-9. View

17.

Lovejoy M, Graczyk P, OHare E, Neuman G . Maternal depression and parenting behavior: a meta-analytic review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2000; 20(5):561-92. DOI: 10.1016/s0272-7358(98)00100-7. View

18.

Dunn M, Burbine T, Bowers C, Tantleff-Dunn S . Moderators of stress in parents of children with autism. Community Ment Health J. 2001; 37(1):39-52. DOI: 10.1023/a:1026592305436. View

19.

van der Bruggen C, Stams G, Bogels S . Research review: the relation between child and parent anxiety and parental control: a meta-analytic review. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2008; 49(12):1257-69. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01898.x. View

20.

Bogels S, Brechman-Toussaint M . Family issues in child anxiety: attachment, family functioning, parental rearing and beliefs. Clin Psychol Rev. 2006; 26(7):834-56. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2005.08.001. View