PARENTAL STRESS AND RESILIENCE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY AMONG PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS (ASD)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51200/sapj.v13i1.5533Keywords:
Parental Stress, Resilience, Autism Spectrum Disorder, MalaysiaAbstract
With the rising rates of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Malaysia, the healthcare and educational systems may lack sufficient resources to support families of children with ASD. Over the years, interventions have mainly focused on children with ASD, often overlooking the well-being of their parents. Caring for children with ASD is challenging, parental resilience may play a crucial role in coping with stress. This study examines the relationship between resilience and parental stress among parents of children with ASD, and how this relationship varies across different parental roles. A total of 103 respondents completed an online survey, which consisted of a Brief Resilience Scale and a Parental Stress Scale. Respondents reported moderate levels of stress and moderate to high levels of resilience. Stress levels between fathers and mothers are comparable, with fathers reporting slightly higher stress than mothers. Higher resilience predicted lower parental stress, aligning with the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation. These findings expand our understanding of parental stress within this population and highlight the importance of resilience in reducing stress. This study provides a foundation for developing targeted interventions to enhance resilience and support the well-being of parents of children with ASD.
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