Coping strategies as mediators of internalizing symptoms on quality of life in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder and typical development.

This study looked at how 172 children (80 with autism, 92 without) cope with feelings like sadness, worry, and anger, and how this affects their quality of life. Children with autism and those without both had lower quality of life when experiencing these difficult feelings. However, problem-solving strategies helped typically developing children feel better, but didn't seem to work as well for children with autism. Children with autism found immediate comfort in calming techniques, but these didn't improve their overall daily life satisfaction.

This cross-sectional study examined how different coping strategies mediate the relationship between internalizing symptoms (depression, anxiety, anger control difficulties) and quality of life in 172 school-aged children (80 with ASD, 92 typically developing). Using moderated mediation analyses, researchers found that higher internalizing symptoms were associated with poorer quality of life across both groups. However, problem-solving coping served as a protective factor only in typically developing children, not in those with ASD. Children with ASD appeared to benefit from immediate relief through palliative coping strategies (structured calming techniques), but these did not improve their overall day-to-day well-being or buffer against the negative impact of internal distress on quality of life.

Results suggest children with ASD may require specifically adapted problem-solving interventions rather than standard approaches. While calming techniques provide immediate relief, comprehensive interventions addressing broader quality of life domains are needed. Clinicians should consider differential coping effectiveness when designing treatment plans for children with ASD versus typically developing peers.

Cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences. Sample size details not fully specified. Reliance on self-report measures may introduce bias. Unknown generalizability beyond school-aged population. Specific ASD diagnostic criteria and severity levels not detailed.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often report lower quality of life (QoL) than their typically developing peers, yet the coping processes that underlie these differences remain unclear. This study investigated which coping styles mediate the impact of internalizing symptoms (depression, anxiety, anger control difficulties) on children's self-reported QoL and whether these pathways differ between ASD and typically developing groups. A total of 172 school-aged children (80 ASD and 92 typically developing) completed standardized measures of QoL, internalizing symptoms, and four coping styles. Moderated mediation analyses tested coping as parallel mediators and diagnostic group as a moderator.

Across both groups, higher internalizing symptoms were linked to poorer QoL. Problem-solving coping emerged as a protective mediator in typically developing children only, while other coping styles did not mediate symptom-QoL links in either group. Problem-focused coping supports QoL in typically developing youth but appears less effective in ASD. Children with ASD derived immediate relief from palliative strategies (e.g., structured calming techniques), yet these strategies did not attenuate the negative impact of internal distress on their broader day-to-day well-being.

Interventions that adapt problem-solving strategies to the needs of children with ASD may enhance their well-being.