Daily experiences among mothers of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder.

Smith et al. (2010) asked mothers of teens and adults with autism to keep a simple diary. They wrote down how much time they spent on chores, childcare, and rest. The team then compared these notes to national averages for moms of typical kids.

The goal was to see if the daily load stays heavy after the school years end.

Mothers of adolescents and adults with autism did more chores and hands-on care. They also felt more tired and stressed each day.

Yet they reported the same number of warm moments and volunteer hours as other moms. The stress is real, but joy is still present.

Seltzer et al. (2010) measured the same moms’ stress hormones in 2010. Flatter daily cortisol backed up the diary reports, showing the body keeps score.

Lotfizadeh et al. (2020) seems to disagree: parents of toddlers flagged for autism also report high stress. The age gap explains the clash. Stress hits early and stays late, so support must span the lifespan.

Sticinski et al. (2022) adds that single caregivers feel even less support than married moms. If you serve a solo parent, expect extra strain.

Your treatment plan is only half the picture. When the client is a teen or adult, ask Mom how she is sleeping and sharing the load. Link her to respite, evening social groups, or future-planning workshops shown by Eussen et al. (2016) to lift caregiver confidence. A less drained mom means better follow-through on your programs.