Coping Profiles and Parenting Stress in Mothers of Autistic Children: The Role of Parental Self‐Efficacy and Satisfaction

Abstract

Parenting can be a rewarding experience, but it also presents many sources of stress. Mothers of autistic children, in particular, represent a vulnerable group who frequently face elevated levels of parenting stress. The aim of this questionnaire‐based, paper‐and‐pencil study was to examine how parental self‐efficacy, parental satisfaction and stress‐coping styles contribute to the experience of parenting stress in mothers of autistic children ( N  = 120) aged 7–10. Additionally, the study aimed to identify distinct profiles based on parental self‐efficacy, parental satisfaction and stress‐coping styles, and to explore how these profiles relate to levels of parenting stress. A hierarchical multiple regression model explained 53% of the variance in parenting stress. Latent Profile Analysis identified three distinct profiles characterized by significant differences in parental self‐efficacy, parental satisfaction and coping styles. Mothers with low parental self‐efficacy, high reliance on emotion‐focused coping and low parental satisfaction reported the highest levels of parenting stress. The findings indicate that key protective factors against elevated parenting stress include a positive emotional experience of parenting, confidence in managing parenting responsibilities and a lower reliance on emotion‐focused coping in stressful situations.