Abstract
Previous research has generally found lower wellbeing levels among parents of autistic children that were related to fewer positive and more negative parenting behaviours. However, these relationships have not yet been studied before a formal autism diagnosis is given. The present study investigates wellbeing (including positive mood, vitality, and general interest) and its relationships with a range of parenting behaviours among two groups of mothers with children at elevated likelihood (EL) of autism: mothers of younger siblings of children on the autism spectrum (‘siblings’; n = 81) and very or extremely prematurely born children (‘preterms’; n = 40). Growth curves were modelled to investigate whether wellbeing and EL group were associated with (change in) reported parenting behaviours between 10 and 24 months of child’s age. As expected, we found more stability than change in parenting behaviours, and more similarities than group differences in parenting behaviours and wellbeing. Mothers generally reported more disciplinary behaviours when their child grew older, in line with general population findings. Initial levels of supportive behaviours were equally high among mothers of siblings and preterms, but only mothers of preterms reported an increase over time. Wellbeing levels were largely comparable to those of a matched subsample from the general population, contradicting previous findings. Contrary to our hypotheses, wellbeing was not associated with fewer positive or more negative parenting behaviours. This is encouraging, as all children benefit from supportive and responsive behaviours.
Highlights
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Among mothers of children at elevated likelihood of autism, most parenting behaviours did not change during the second year of life.
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Both mothers of siblings and preterms reported an increase in disciplinary behaviours.
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Additionally, mothers of preterms reported an increase in warm and supportive behaviours.
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No group differences were found in initial parenting behaviours and wellbeing or in change over time, except for warmth/support.
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Wellbeing was comparable to a matched general population subsample and not associated with any of the parenting behaviours.
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Acknowledgements
We are thankful to all families that have been and still are participating in the TIARA study. We would also like to thank Dr. Vera E. Heininga for generously sharing her growth curve modelling and assumption testing code.
the TIARA team
Steffie Amelynck2,8, Lyssa M. de Vries2,8,9, Maide Erdogan3, Jean Steyaert2,8,9, Thijs Van Lierde3.
Funding
Melinda Madarevic received funding from the Marguerite-Marie Delacroix Support Fund [grant number GV/B-375]. The Tracking Infants At Raised Likelihood for Autism (TIARA) study is funded by the Research Foundation Flanders, Belgium [grant number S001517N].
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Melinda Madarevic: Conceptualisation, Methodology, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Data Curation, Writing—Original Draft. Karla Van Leeuwen: Conceptualisation, Writing—Review & Editing, Supervision. Petra Warreyn: Conceptualisation, Writing—Review & Editing, Supervision, Funding Acquisition. Lotte van Esch: Data Curation, Writing—Review & Editing. Floor Moerman: Investigation, Writing—Review & Editing. Julie Segers: Investigation, Writing – Review & Editing. Maurits Masselink: Methodology, Formal Analysis, Writing—Review & Editing. Herbert Roeyers: Writing—Review & Editing, Funding Acquisition. Ilse Noens: Conceptualisation, Methodology, Writing—Review & Editing, Supervision, Funding Acquisition.
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Written informed consent was obtained from the parents of all individual participants prior to participating in the TIARA study.
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The study protocol of the TIARA study was approved by the Medical Ethical Committees of Ghent University Hospital (2017/1057) and Leuven University Hospital/KU Leuven (S60646) as conforming to the Declaration of Helsinki, 2000. Participation was voluntary and GDPR regulation (2016/679) was strictly followed.
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Madarevic, M., Van Leeuwen, K., Warreyn, P. et al. Wellbeing does not predict change in parenting behaviours among mothers of young children at elevated likelihood of autism. J Child Fam Stud 33, 1393–1414 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-024-02826-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-024-02826-x