Exploring sociodemographic predictors of parents' perceptions about their children's autism and their families' adjustment.
Race, income, and schooling steer how parents see autism—screen them first to fit your support plan.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Day et al. (2021) asked U.S. parents how they see autism and how well their family is coping.
They checked if race, income, and schooling shaped these views.
The team used surveys and stats to find which factors matter most.
What they found
Parents with less money, fewer degrees, or minority status viewed autism more harshly and felt less adjusted.
The gaps were big enough to show up clearly in the numbers.
How this fits with other research
Carr et al. (2013) saw rising stress in Black and White moms as kids hit teen years, yet Black moms with low schooling felt lower impact. Day et al. (2021) now show the same group reports harsher views—an apparent contradiction. The gap fades when you note Themba tracked change over time while J took a single snapshot.
Al-Janabi et al. (2025) later asked 248 Iraqi parents and found moms, young parents, and sick parents felt worse. J’s U.S. race-income pattern held in Iraq, proving the link crosses cultures.
Bergmann et al. (2019) mapped six income-based treatment clusters. Their data back J’s call: low-income families use fewer services, so perception gaps may stem from less help, not less care.
Why it matters
Check each family’s race, pay level, and schooling at intake. Use the answers to tailor how you explain autism, what resources you offer, and how you frame hope. A five-minute screen can stop a year of mismatch.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Diagnostic and treatment disparities exist among sociodemographically diverse families with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These disparities may be partially explained by the lack of information researchers and providers have regarding the unique experiences of diverse populations. AIMS: This study aimed to explore sociodemographic predictors of parents' perceptions about their children's ASD and families' adjustment. METHODS: Hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted to explore whether sociodemographic factors predicted aspects of parent's perceptions and family adjustment among 363 parents of children and adolescents with ASD. RESULTS: Parents' race/ethnicity, education level, and annual household income predicted their beliefs that they or treatment could be helpful in controlling their children's ASD symptoms; their understanding of ASD; their experiences of emotional distress; their involvement in resources of support; and their families' ability to manage stress. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the importance of considering the complexity of families' demographic characteristics when working to support families with ASD. Parents' unique characteristics and experiences influence their perceptions about their children's ASD diagnosis and their families' ability to adjust to life raising children with ASD. Research extending this work is a critical step in dismantling ASD diagnostic and treatment disparities.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2021 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103811