Quality of Life, Coping Styles, Stress Levels, and Time Use in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Comparing Single Versus Coupled Households.

McAuliffe et al. (2017) sent surveys to moms of kids with autism. They asked about stress, coping tricks, and quality of life.

The team split moms into two groups: single parents and partnered parents. Then they looked for big differences between the groups.

Stress levels were almost the same for both groups. Time use and coping styles matched too.

Only one tiny gap showed up: single moms scored a little lower on 'environmental quality of life,' but the gap was too small to matter.

Brisini et al. (2020) also used surveys with autism moms. They found that parents of autistic kids feel more self-doubt than parents of typical kids. Both studies agree that raising a child with ASD adds pressure, but Tomomi shows the pressure is not heavier for single moms.

Dudley et al. (2019) tracked moms day-by-day. On days moms felt less stress and more energy, they used kinder, more supportive parenting. Tomomi’s snapshot result lines up: household type did not lock moms into chronic stress; daily ups and downs still rule.

Worsham et al. (2015) linked child sensory issues to caregiver strain. Tomomi did not measure sensory problems, so the papers do not clash; they simply spotlight different levers—child behavior versus family structure.

Stop assuming single moms of kids with ASD are automatically at risk. Screen every parent for concrete barriers like money, housing, or child sensory needs. Offer the same coping and respite resources to all moms instead of triaging by marital status.