Risk and protective factors associated with maternal mental health in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder.
Mothers of children with autism carry a heavier mental load, but boosting family support and coping skills can lower that weight.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Nahar et al. (2022) asked moms to fill out surveys. They compared mothers of children with autism to mothers of children with dyslexia and mothers of children with no special needs.
The team looked for things that raised risk and things that protected mental health. They used numbers to see which factors mattered most.
What they found
Mothers of children with autism reported more mental health problems than the other two groups.
The study spotted clear risk factors and clear protective factors. Knowing both helps you see which moms need extra help.
How this fits with other research
Dijkstra-de Neijs et al. (2025) found the same bad-news pattern in a younger group. Their moms of preschool kids with autism also showed high depression and burnout. This extends Shakira’s work down to the early-years window.
Cai et al. (2020) showed that moms who can’t stand uncertainty and use avoidant coping feel worse. Shakira’s team built on that idea by adding more protective items like family support.
Taylor et al. (2012) tracked moms right after diagnosis and over a year later. They proved the blues can last. Shakira’s cross-sectional map of risk and protective factors fits that timeline picture.
Turk et al. (2010) and Benson (2012) both found social support lifts mood. Shakira agrees and lists good family function as a shield against depression.
Why it matters
You already track child progress. Now track mom’s risk level too. Add a one-page screener for depression, coping style, and family support at intake and every six months. When risk scores are high, link the family to a parent support group, respite care, or brief counseling. Small moves like this can prevent bigger mental health crashes later.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience lower maternal mental health outcomes than mothers of children from other populations, including children with intellectual and developmental disorders. OBJECTIVES: This study explored risk factors associated with maternal mental health. Several factors including maternal resilience, social support, coping, optimism and family functioning acted as protective factors between child behavioural and emotional problems and maternal mental health. METHODS: Mothers of 70 children completed a cross-sectional online survey. Twenty-two children were diagnosed with ASD, 16 children were diagnosed with Dyslexia (DYS) and 32 children had no special educational needs diagnosis (NO SEND). RESULTS: Mothers of children with ASD demonstrated greater maternal mental health problems compared to mothers of children with DYS and NO SEND. Socioeconomic status (SES), child diagnosis, child gender, and child behavioural and emotional problems were significant risk factors associated with reduced maternal mental health. Maternal resilience, family functioning, and practical coping served as protective factors, moderating the relationship between child behavioural and emotional problems and maternal mental health. There is little evidence to suggest social support, optimism, and wishful thinking were protective factors in this relationship between child behavioural and emotional problems and maternal mental health. IMPLICATIONS: There is a need to support mothers of children with ASD through interventions to promote and increase their mental health.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2022 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104362