Parenting Stress, Social Support and Parental Characteristic in Parents of ASD Children

Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have developmental problems that can be a source of stress for parents. This study aimed to measures the parenting stress experienced by parents of ASD children in relation to social support and parental characteristics, namely education level and income. This study involved 50 parents of ASD children who send their children to several special schools in Lampung, Indonesia. Research data were obtained using the parenting stress index, social support scale, and parental characteristics data. The collected data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The results of the study found that parents of ASD children experienced moderate parenting stress. Social support and a high level of education were found to have a significant effect on parenting stress, while income did not. Social support was found to be the strongest predictor of parenting stress. The results of the study illustrate that the parenting stress experienced by parents of ASD children in Indonesia is not as high as found in other countries. This study has implications on the emphasis of social support as an interventions to deal with parenting stress in parents of ASD children in Indonesia.