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Parenting stress in Chinese mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Elevated parenting stress has been observed among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in western countries, but little is known about mothers of Han Chinese children. The aim of the current study was to further the knowledge about stress experienced by Chinese mothers of children with ASD by examining maternal parenting stress in Heilongjiang province of China.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, data about participants’ demographic characteristics, parenting stress, anxiety, depression, child’s behavioral problems, coping strategies, and social support were collected though a questionnaire survey. The participants included 150 families with ASD children, who were consecutively admitted to the clinics of the Children Development and Behavior Research Center in Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Disabled Persons Federation, and Mudanjiang Child Welfare Home.

Results

The participants reported elevated parenting stress. Mothers’ parenting stress was associated with levels of depression and anxiety, and child’s behavioral symptoms. Child’s behavioral symptoms, maternal anxiety, maternal depressive symptoms, and lack of governmental financial support were associated with overall parenting stress.

Conclusions

Government support may play an important role in reducing parenting stress in this population.

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Abbreviations

ASD:

Autism spectrum disorder

PSI-SF:

Parenting Stress Index-Short Form

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Heilongjiang Disabled Persons Federation and Mudanjiang Child Welfare Home. The authors are also grateful to all those who participated in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Children’s and Adolescent Health, Public Health College of Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, 150086, People’s Republic of China

    Ji Wang, YanJie Hu, Yuan Wang, Wei Xia, CaiHong Sun & LiJie Wu

  2. Departments of Psychiatry and of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 4Z6, Canada

    JianLi Wang

  3. Department of Pediatrics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Dinggang, Shipai, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    XiuQun Qin

Authors
  1. Ji Wang
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  2. YanJie Hu
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  3. Yuan Wang
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  4. XiuQun Qin
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  5. Wei Xia
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  7. LiJie Wu
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  8. JianLi Wang
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Correspondence to LiJie Wu or JianLi Wang.

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Wang, J., Hu, Y., Wang, Y. et al. Parenting stress in Chinese mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 48, 575–582 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0569-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0569-7

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