Highlights
- •Parents of children with ASD have higher parenting and psychological stress than parents of healthy children.
- •Public misconceptions and rejection of children with ASD leave parents feeling a sense of shame.
- •Parents of children with ASD in China have low self-esteem and family functioning and high affiliate stigma.
- •ASD symptom severity, parental self-esteem, and family functioning are predictors of parental affiliate stigma.
- •The relationship between ASD symptom severity and affiliate stigma was mediated by self-esteem and family functioning
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the level of affiliate stigma among parents of children with autism
spectrum disorder and to explore the mediating role of self-esteem and family functioning.
Design and methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in a large regional hospital and two childhood
rehabilitation centers in Guangdong, China. Data related to demographics, parental
self-esteem, family functioning, and affiliate stigma were collected from 180 parents
of children diagnosed with ASD. We used t-tests, analysis of variance, and correlation analysis to explore the related factors
of parental affiliate stigma. Path analysis was used to determine the mediating roles
of self-esteem and family functioning in the relationship between symptom severity
and affiliate stigma.
Results
Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder in China experienced low self-esteem,
family functioning, and high affiliate stigma. Symptom severity was negatively correlated
with self-esteem and family functioning. Self-esteem and family functioning were significantly
negatively correlated with affiliate stigma. Symptom severity was positively correlated
with affiliate stigma. Self-esteem and family functioning mediated the relationship
between symptom severity and affiliate stigma.
Conclusions
Symptom severity affects parental affiliate stigma among families with children with
ASD. Self-esteem and family functioning are the two mediators in the relationship.
We should take steps to improve self-esteem and family functioning in order to alleviate
parental affiliate stigma.
Practice implications
This study emphasizes the importance of the influence of ASD severity and family functioning
on affiliate stigma. In clinical practice, psychological support should be provided
for parents of children with ASD to improve their mental health.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 07, 2022
Accepted:
April 27,
2022
Received in revised form:
April 24,
2022
Received:
August 30,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
