Life After an Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis: A Comparison of Stress and Coping Profiles of African American and Euro-American Caregivers.

Williams et al. (2019) asked two groups of parents to fill out surveys. One group was African American. The other group was Euro-American. All parents had a child with autism.

The surveys measured how much stress the parents felt and how they coped with it. The team then compared the two groups.

African American parents scored higher on stress. They also used more kinds of coping tools. Prayer and church support topped their list.

Euro-American parents used fewer coping styles. Their stress levels were lower on average.

Onovbiona et al. (2024) extends these findings. They interviewed Black caregivers and heard the same high stress. The new study adds why: racism and long clinic drives make life harder.

Čolić et al. (2022) also extends the picture. Their review shows racism is common in ABA clinics. This helps explain why stress is high and why churches become a safe place to cope.

Laposa et al. (2017) used a similar survey style. They found that coping skills, not hours of care, best predict strain. This matches Williams et al. (2019): more coping tools do not erase stress, but they help parents survive it.

You may see only the child, yet the parent’s stress walks through the door with them. African American caregivers feel extra weight. Ask about their supports. Add faith-based options if they want them. Offer flexible times and telehealth to cut logistical barriers shown in later studies. Small moves like these lower stress and keep families in treatment.