Participants’ demographic characteristics and parenting stress scores_
| Demographic variables | Number, n (%) | Parenting stress, mean ± SD | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother’s age (years) | 0.021** | ||
| 18–24 | 16 (14.55) | 143.37 ± 3.38 | |
| 25–31 | 71 (64.54) | 139.89 ± 3.55 | |
| 32–38 | 18 (16.36) | 121.32 ± 3.13 | |
| 39–45 | 5 (4.55) | 114.26 ± 3.57 | |
| Mother’s education level | 0.025** | ||
| Primary | 11 (10) | 112.58 ± 3.21 | |
| Diploma | 80 (72.72) | 126.19 ± 3.49 | |
| Bachelor | 10 (9.10) | 131.75 ± 3.28 | |
| Master’s degree and higher | 9 (8.18) | 140.04 ± 3.17 | |
| Mother’s job | 0.023** | ||
| Self-employed | 15 (13.63) | 126.09 ± 3.61 | |
| Employed | 10 (9.10) | 142.32 ± 3.03 | |
| Housewife | 85 (77.27) | 115.27 ± 3.42 | |
| Financial status | 0.015** | ||
| Weak | 11 (10.00) | 162.37 ± 3.18 | |
| Moderate | 81 (73.63) | 139.89 ± 3.23 | |
| Good | 18 (16.36) | 124.02 ± 3.43 | |
| Number of children | 0.75** | ||
| 1 | 43 (39.09) | 124.17 ± 3.68 | |
| 2–3 | 58 (52.72) | 126.09 ± 3.57 | |
| 4 and more | 9 (8.18) | 121.02 ± 3.23 | |
| Number of children with autism | 0.013* | ||
| 1 | 100 (90.90) | 127.37 ± 3.43 | |
| 2 | 10 (9.10) | 168.42 ± 3.26 | |
| Sex of child | 0.81* | ||
| Boy | 76 (69.10) | 127.32 ± 3.41 | |
| Girl | 34 (30.90) | 128.29 ± 3.47 | |
| Child’s age (years) | 0.011** | ||
| 6–8 | 37 (33.64) | 124.79 ± 3.77 | |
| 9–11 | 47 (42.73) | 126.24 ± 3.12 | |
| 12–14 | 26 (23.63) | 128.29 ± 3.47 | |
| Autism performance level | 0.019* | ||
| High performance | 43 (39.10) | 129.37 ± 3.48 | |
| Moderate performance | 67 (60.90) | 168.51 ± 3.37 | |
Mean and standard deviation (M ± SD) of the participants’ parenting stress, caring burden, and coping strategies_
| Variable and dimension | Per dimension | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Parenting stress | 142.19 ± 3.35 | |
| Parental distress | 140.37 ± 3.31 | |
| Parent–child dysfunctional interaction | 142.58 ± 3.47 | |
| Difficult child characteristics | 143.62 ± 3.27 | |
| Caring burden | 65.55 ± 2.38 | |
| Physical | 63.71 ± 2.46 | |
| Mental | 67.39 ± 2.31 | |
| Coping strategies | 95.45 ± 2.64 | |
| Confrontive coping | 89.21 ± 2.47 | |
| Self-controlling | 98.36 ± 2.74 | |
| Seeking social support | 110.29 ± 2.59 | |
| Escape – avoidance | 104.57 ± 2.43 | |
| Accepting responsibility | 96.34 ± 2.61 | |
| Distancing | 114.11 ± 2.83 | |
| Plan full problem-solving | 78.43 ± 2.73 | |
| Positive reappraisal | 72.36 ± 2.78 | |
Predictor variables of parenting stress in mothers of children with autism during the pandemic of COVID-19_
| Variable | Unstandardized coefficients | Standardized coefficients β | t | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | Standard deviation | ||||
| Caring burden | 2.98 | 1.18 | 0.5 | 2.52 | 0.001 |
| Coping strategies | -2.76 | 1.07 | 0.65 | 2.57 | 0.001 |
| Child’s age | 2.78 | 1.43 | 0.61 | 1.94 | 0.013 |
| Number of children with autism | 2.63 | 1.27 | 0.58 | 2.07 | 0.014 |
| Financial status | -2.58 | 1.12 | 0.54 | 2.3 | 0.015 |
| Autism performance level | -2.43 | 1.32 | 0.47 | 1.84 | 0.02 |
| Mother’s age | -2.26 | 1.1 | 0.43 | 2.05 | 0.021 |
| Mother’s education level | |||||
| Elementary | Reference | – | – | – | – |
| Diploma | 1.87 | 1.11 | 0.36 | 1.68 | 0.028 |
| Bachelor | 1.99 | 1.13 | 0.39 | 1.76 | 0.029 |
| Master and PhD's degree | 2.04 | 1.16 | 0.42 | 1.75 | 0.026 |
| Mother’s job | |||||
| Housewife | Reference | – | – | – | – |
| Self-employed | 1.82 | 1.09 | 0.31 | 1.66 | 0.022 |
| Employed | 2.04 | 1.11 | 0.37 | 1.75 | 0.023 |