The Route of Stress in Parents of Young Children with and without Autism: A Path-Analysis Study

Elisa Leonardi, Antonio Cerasa, Rocco Servidio, Angela Costabile, Francesca Isabella Famà, Cristina Carrozza, Letteria Spadaro, Renato Scifo, Sabrina Baieli, Stefania Aiello, Flavia Marino, Gennaro Tartarisco, David Vagni, Giovanni Pioggia and Liliana Ruta
Additional contact information
Elisa Leonardi: Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, 98164 Messina, Italy
Antonio Cerasa: Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, 98164 Messina, Italy
Rocco Servidio: Department of Cultures, Education and Society, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata, Italy
Angela Costabile: Department of Cultures, Education and Society, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata, Italy
Francesca Isabella Famà: Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, 98164 Messina, Italy
Cristina Carrozza: Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, 98164 Messina, Italy
Letteria Spadaro: Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, 98164 Messina, Italy
Renato Scifo: Centre for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Child Psychiatry Unit, Provincial Health Service of Catania (ASP CT), 95124 Catania, Italy
Sabrina Baieli: Centre for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Child Psychiatry Unit, Provincial Health Service of Catania (ASP CT), 95124 Catania, Italy
Stefania Aiello: Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, 98164 Messina, Italy
Flavia Marino: Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, 98164 Messina, Italy
Gennaro Tartarisco: Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, 98164 Messina, Italy
David Vagni: Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, 98164 Messina, Italy
Giovanni Pioggia: Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, 98164 Messina, Italy
Liliana Ruta: Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, 98164 Messina, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: We provide a conceptual model on the complex interaction between stress, psychological predisposition, and personality traits, accounting for gender, in parents of children with and without autism. We performed a path analysis using a structural equation modeling approach in a sample of parents including 60 ASD and 53 TD couples. In parents of typically developing children (TD), depression level and age are the main direct predictors of stress through the mediating effect of anxiety. Otherwise, in the ASD parent group, the personality trait ‘openness’ directly predicts the defensive response and stress levels without the mediating effect of anxiety. Our data suggest a route of action in promoting new behavioral strategies to prevent parenting stress, making families run smoothly.

Keywords: autism; stress; parents; anxiety; depression; structural equation modelling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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