Association between perceived social support of parents and emotional/behavioral problems in children with ASD: A chain mediation model

A Systematic Review of Parental Self-Efficacy in Parents of Autistic Children

Parental self-efficacy (PSE) assesses a parent's expectations and beliefs about their ability to effectively parent their child. PSE has implications for a parent's well-being, parenting practices, mental health, the parent-child relationship, and child adjustment. While PSE has been extensively examined within the broader parenting literature, the examination of PSE specifically for parents of autistic children has gained increasing attention in recent years. The following systematic review aimed to investigate the role of PSE for parents of autistic children by examining variables that predict PSE or are predicted by PSE in relation to how they align with the broader parenting literature and are unique to autism. Utilizing PRISMA guidelines, peer-reviewed articles were included if (a) participants included caregivers of autistic children, (b) at least one quantitative outcome measure of PSE was utilized, and (c) the role of PSE was examined as an outcome, predictor, or variable in an explanatory model. A total of 53 studies were included in the review and the role of PSE was examined regarding family (e.g., parental characteristics, parent stress, well-being, and support) and child factors (e.g., autism symptomology, problem behaviors, interventions). Several themes emerged including a positive relationship between PSE and support, and a negative relationship between PSE and parenting stress, parent mental health outcomes (e.g., anxiety, depression), and autism symptomology. Findings were compared to the broader parenting and PSE literature to examine how increased considerations and challenges (e.g., child problem behaviors, social impairment, and caregiver strain) associated with raising an autistic child might impact PSE.

Relationship between Emotional Support for Parents and Autistic Children's Participation in Social and Physical Activities

The purpose of this study was to determine if parents receiving emotional support is positively correlated with children's participation in physical and social activities and if such a correlation exists between parental emotional support in children labeled as autistic. Data were drawn from 30,501 children aged 6 to 17 years in the 2020 National Survey of Children's Health database and analyzed using a retrospective cross-sectional approach based on multivariate linear regression models. Results showed parental emotional support was statistically significantly correlated with children's physical and social activity in the total sample but was not significant for the emotional support of parents with autistic children. The findings suggest that other issues must be considered as contributing factors for parents of autistic children in relation to social and physical activity participation.

Mental Health Problems Among Adolescents With Mild Intellectual Disability and Relation to Sleep Quality and Perceived Social Support: A Comparative Study

The current cross-sectional study sought to determine the mental health problems of adolescents with mild intellectual disability (ID) and influencing factors. This study, which used a comparison group, was performed with 188 adolescents (91 with mild ID and 97 without ID) between January 2019 and June 2019 in Turkey. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Perceived Social Support Scale. Adolescents with mild ID were at higher risk for mental health problems compared to those without ID. According to linear regression analysis, sex, age, birth order, maternal age, parents' educational level, sleep quality, and perceived social support were statistically significant predictive factors of mental health problems in adolescents with mild ID. Results of this study indicate that adolescents with mild ID are at greater risk for mental health problems and that effective prevention/intervention strategies are needed. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 62(3), 39-50.].

The relationship between parental involvement and psychological adjustment among Chinese children with autism spectrum disorder in the transition from kindergarten to primary school: A chain-mediating model

Introduction

This study examined the impact of parental involvement on the psychological adjustment of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the role of parenting self-efficacy and parenting stress in the transition from kindergarten to primary school.

Methods

Using the questionnaires, we collected data from 237 Chinese parents of children with ASD.

Results

Mediation analyses showed that parental involvement partially promoted the psychological adjustment of children with ASD, which was reflected in the fact that parental involvement promoted children's prosocial behavior but did not reduce their emotional/behavioral problems. Mediation analyses also revealed the role of the mediator in parenting stress between parental involvement and the psychological adjustment of children. Additionally, the results suggested that parenting self-efficacy and parenting stress played a chain-mediating role in the association between parental involvement and psychological adjustment in children with ASD.

Discussion

These findings enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between parental involvement and psychological adjustment in children with ASD in the transition from kindergarten to primary school.

Parents' Perceived Social Support and Children's Approaches to Learning in Rural China: A Moderated Mediation Model

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between parents' perceived social support (PSS) and young children's approaches to learning (ATLs) in rural China, as well as the mediating effect of the home learning environment (HLE) and the moderating effect of parental negative emotions (PNE). Using the cluster random sampling method, 2714 kindergarteners (M_age = 52.99 months, SD = 10.28; 52.00% boys; 27.43% only child) were recruited from rural areas of eight provinces in China. With questionnaires, parents reported their PSS and PNE, HLE, and the children's ATLs. The results indicated that: (1) parents' PSS positively predicted children's ATLs; (2) the HLE partially mediated the relationship between parents' PSS and children's ATLs; and (3) PNE moderated the relationship between parents' PSS and children's ATLs. Thus, the results supported a moderated mediation model on the relationship between parents' PSS and young children's ATLs, with the HLE as a mediator and the parents' PSS as a moderator. These findings offer new avenues for intervening and supporting the development of young children's ATLs.

Factors influencing emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children with cancer based on self-regulation shift theory

OBJECTIVE

The objective is to investigate the factors influencing emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children with cancer and to provide a scientific basis for developing predictive intervention strategies.

METHODS

We recruited 375 preschool children with cancer, from March 2019 to February 2020, via convenience sampling. The self-regulation shift theory was implemented as a theoretical framework and a structural equation model was applied to construct and validate this framework and to analyze the relationships among various influencing factors.

RESULTS

Children's effortful control, parent-child attachment, the family environment, family upbringing, parents' marital quality, parents' education level, and social support significantly affected children's emotions and behaviors. Additionally, children's effortful control and parent-child attachment mediated the effect of the family environment, family upbringing, and parents' marital quality on children's emotions and behaviors."

CONCLUSION

This study identified several factors that influence children's emotions and behaviors, which should be considered while developing predictive intervention strategies to promote children's rehabilitation and improve parents' education, thus offering improved support for children with cancer.

Marital Satisfaction and Perceived Family Support in Families of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Dyadic Analysis

BACKGROUND

Raising children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) causes tremendous stress for parents that may lead to marital conflict and relationship dissatisfaction. Many factors are associated with parent relationships including severity of autistic behaviors and social support. This study aimed to investigate whether severity of autistic behaviors, perceived family support, and complementarity of interpersonal styles between husbands and wives predicted couple satisfaction among the parents of children with ASD.

METHOD

Seven hundred ninety-seven parent dyads of children aged 7-14 years old with ASD participated in the study. Measurements used included couple satisfaction index, perceived family support using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, inter-personal style using the inventory of interpersonal problems, the ABC autism checklists as well as sociodemographic and related factors. The Actor Partner Interdependence Model estimated by multilevel modeling was used for analysis.

RESULTS

Perceived family support was relevant in married couples regarding their marital relationship, but the effects on husbands and wives differed. Husbands' relationship satisfaction was predicted by how they perceived being supported by family. The severity of autistic behaviors predicted relationship satisfaction but only actor effect. Negative prediction of interpersonal complementarity on couple satisfaction was observed. In addition, time spent on raising children had a negative impact on the quality of the relationship. Partner effect of time spent was observed among women.

CONCLUSION

Dyadic analysis using an actor-partner independence model confirmed perception of family support predicts relationship satisfaction among parents of children with ASD in addition to the severity of autistic behaviors and time spent caring for children. Complementarity of individual interpersonal style had no effect on couple satisfaction. This research suggests implications for interventions regarding building skills that elicit support from family members.

Family and Psychosocial Functioning in Bipolar Disorder: The Mediating Effects of Social Support, Resilience and Suicidal Ideation

Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) may experience family dysfunction, which might result in worse psychosocial functioning through environmental and psychological factors. Research investigating the mediating role of social support, resilience and suicidal ideation on family and psychosocial functioning in BD is rare. The study aims to explore the predicting and mediating effects of social support, resilience and suicidal ideation on family and psychosocial functioning in BD patients. Two hundred forty-six patients with BD and sixty-nine healthy controls were recruited. The Family Assessment Device (FAD), Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI) were used to assess family functioning, psychosocial functioning, social support, resilience and suicidal ideation, respectively. Bipolar patients exhibited worse family and psychosocial functioning than healthy controls. Family functioning, social support, resilience and suicidal ideation significantly predict psychosocial functioning in the bipolar group. Social support, resilience and suicidal ideation indirectly mediate the effect of family functioning on psychosocial functioning in bipolar patients. Cross-sectional design and mixed sample including acute and remitted stages. Treatments for patients with bipolar disorder should be combined with family strategies that are formulated to improve psychosocial functioning. An emphasis should be placed on enhancing social support and resilience while paying attention to suicidal ideation.

Social Support and Family Functioning in Chinese Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Families caring for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have reported poorer family functioning. Social support might strengthen family functioning, but limited research to date has focused on this association in China. This study conducted a cross-sectional survey of Chinese families that have children with ASD to examine the relationship between social support and family functioning. Caregivers of children with ASD from Sichuan province in China (N = 167) were surveyed concerning their perceived social support and family functioning. The Social Support Rating Scale was used to investigate caregivers' perceived social support from three dimensions: subjective support, objective support, and the utilization of support. A Chinese version of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale was used to investigate their perceptions of family cohesion and adaptability. The Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression were used for analyses. The results suggested that social support was positively related to family cohesion and adaptability. Of the three sub-domains of social support, both subjective support and the utilization of support were positively associated with family cohesion and adaptability. The study's findings evidenced the importance of different types of social support and could be used to develop a targeted support service for families that have children with ASD to improve their family functioning and sustain the family unit.