Exploring the Variables of the Psychological Well-Being of Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Self-Compassion and Psychological Hardiness.
Self-compassion is the biggest predictor of well-being for moms of kids with autism—target this in caregiver support plans.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Nemati et al. (2024) asked 101 moms of kids with autism to fill out three short surveys. The surveys measured self-compassion, psychological hardiness, and overall well-being.
The team then ran stats to see which trait best predicted how well the mothers felt.
What they found
Both self-compassion and hardiness linked to better well-being. Self-compassion was the strongest predictor.
In plain words: the kinder moms were to themselves, the better they felt day-to-day.
How this fits with other research
Northup et al. (1991) found the same hardiness link 33 years earlier. Their work focused only on hardiness and social support. Shahrooz adds self-compassion and shows it matters most.
Falk et al. (2014) looked at parental cognitions and support as stress drivers. They did not test self-compassion. The new study says self-kindness may be an even bigger lever.
Capio et al. (2013) used cortisol to spot the most stressed moms. Shahrooz gives a practical next step: boost self-compassion to move moms out of that high-risk group.
Why it matters
You can’t erase the daily challenges these moms face. You can add a quick self-compassion module to parent training. Two-minute guided self-kindness exercises, nightly journaling, or simple “talk to yourself like a friend” prompts cost nothing and may yield big gains in caregiver well-being.
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Join Free →Open your next parent meeting with a two-minute self-compassion script: have the mom place her hand on her chest, name one struggle, and say aloud, “Any parent would feel overwhelmed here; I’m doing my best.”
02At a glance
03Original abstract
Present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between self-compassion and psychological hardiness, and psychological well-being among mothers of children with autism. The research design was correlational, and its statistical population sample consisted of 101 mothers of children with an autism spectrum disorder. The results of a correlational analysis showed a significant positive relationship between self-compassion and psychological hardiness, and psychological well-being. Multiple regression analysis showed that among the variables of self-compassion and psychological hardiness, the variable of self-compassion had the largest share in predicting the psychological well-being of mothers. Concerning self-compassion, conscious awareness of self-kindness along with psychological hardship could predict the psychological well-being in these groups of mothers, such as raising a child with ASD.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2024 · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105608