Are all parental experiences equal?: Cluster analysis of salivary cortisol and perception of parental stress in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder.
Moms of kids with autism sort into four stress-cortisol types that child severity can’t predict.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team asked moms of kids with autism to spit into tubes four times a day for one week.
They also filled out a short stress survey each night.
A computer then grouped the moms by both their cortisol pattern and their stress scores.
What they found
Four clear mom types showed up.
Some had high stress feelings but normal cortisol.
Others had flat, low cortisol yet said they felt fine.
Surprise: which group a mom landed in did not line up with how severe her child’s autism was.
How this fits with other research
Capio et al. (2013) earlier saw only two cortisol tracks: flat or steep. The new four-group picture adds perceived stress, showing the flat-cortisol moms split into “calm” and “numb” types.
Koegel et al. (1992) claimed one universal stress profile for all moms of kids with autism. The 2023 clusters overturn that idea; stress is not one-size-fits-all.
Falk et al. (2014) found parent thoughts and support predict stress better than child behaviors. The new data back them up: child symptom severity did not push moms into any cluster.
Why it matters
Stop assuming every mom is burned out. Check both her stress words and her cortisol before you pick parent training, respite, or counseling. A calm-seeming mom with flat cortisol may need different help than a teary mom with spiking cortisol, even if their kids look similar on paper.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Many parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report high stress levels related to their parenting role. The experience of stress is reflected in physical symptoms and well-being, as observed by abnormal patterns of cortisol regulation. However, it may be a mistake to conceive parenthood as unilaterally stressful as diverse experiences are possible. Mothers of children with ASD provided salivary cortisol samples and self-rated parental stress. The area under the curve with respect to ground was calculated in regard to three daily collection time points. As a group, mothers reported average levels of parenting stress and flat daily cortisol output. The current age of the child and age at the time of diagnosis moderately predicted overall daily cortisol. Hierarchical clusters analysis identified four distinct profiles of stress regulation based on daily cortisol regulation and perception of parental stress. Groups did not differ based on the severity of symptoms related to autism or demographic information. We suggest that other variables, such as stress mediators and secondary stressors, may explain variability in stress regulation. Future research and intervention should perceive the parental experience as heterogeneous and focus on individualizing the support offered in light of diverse experiences.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2023 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104550