The role of vicarious hope on child’s autism symptoms, social exclusion and stress of parents with children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Purpose: The significance and roles of different predictors (severity of child’s autism symptoms, social exclusion, vicarious hope, and different coping styles) of parental stress in parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder were examined. Methods: A total of 154 Hong Kong parents of children with ASD aged 4-15 completed a questionnaire containing demographics and measures of parental stress, children’s autism symptoms traits, social exclusion, vicarious hope, and use of coping styles. Results: The results showed significant associations between parental stress and the severity of child’s autism symptoms, vicarious hope, problem-focused coping style, and avoidant coping style. While social exclusion was found insignificant in predicting parental stress, vicarious hope and avoidant coping style were found to exert indirect effects on the relationships between parental stress and both severity of child’s autism symptoms and social exclusion. Conclusion: The study supported the mediating roles of vicarious hope and avoidant coping style on the relationship between parental stress and severity of child’s autism symptoms and social exclusion. Future intervention on supporting parental well-being not only could build on modifying a child’s behaviours and parents’ problem-solving skills, but also on enhancing parents’ hopeful expectations of their child’s future.