Perceived social support as a moderator of posttraumatic stress in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder.

This study looked at stress levels in 142 parents of autistic children in Jordan. Most parents showed signs of trauma-related stress above concerning levels. Mothers had higher stress than fathers overall. However, social support made a big difference - mothers with little support had the highest stress, while fathers with good support had the lowest stress.

Having strong social support networks appears crucial for managing the psychological challenges of raising an autistic child, especially for mothers.

This cross-sectional study examined 142 Arabic-speaking parents (71 mothers, 71 fathers) of children with autism spectrum disorder in Jordan to investigate how perceived social support affects the relationship between parental gender and PTSD symptoms. Parents completed standardized measures of PTSD symptoms and social support. Results showed parents had mean PTSD scores above the clinical risk threshold (42.08 vs 33), with mothers reporting significantly higher symptoms than fathers. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that perceived social support significantly moderated the gender-PTSD relationship, explaining 61% of variance.

Mothers with low social support showed the highest PTSD symptoms, while fathers with high support showed the lowest. The study suggests targeted social support interventions, particularly for mothers, may reduce PTSD symptoms in autism caregiving families.

Results support implementing social support interventions to reduce PTSD risk in autism families, with particular focus on mothers. Clinicians should assess social support levels and connect families to peer support networks, respite services, and community resources. Gender-sensitive approaches recognizing differential stress patterns may improve intervention effectiveness and family psychological wellbeing.

Cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences. Single cultural context (Arabic-speaking Jordanian families) limits generalizability. Self-report measures may introduce bias. No comparison with general population or other disability groups. Sample recruitment from treatment centers may not represent all autism families.

Parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face elevated psychological distress, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study explored whether perceived social support moderates the relationship between parental gender and PTSD risk. A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 142 Arabic-speaking parents (equally distributed between mothers and fathers) recruited from 10 ASD treatment centers in central Jordan. Participants completed standardized measures of PTSD symptoms and perceived social support, along with demographic and child-related information.

Two hierarchical linear regression models were employed to examine whether perceived social support moderated the association between parental gender and PTSD symptoms, controlling for relevant covariates. The mean PTSD score among parents was 42.08, surpassing the clinical risk threshold of 33. Mothers reported significantly higher PTSD scores compared to fathers. Elevated PTSD symptoms were also observed among parents with low levels of perceived social support and those caring for children with more severe ASD symptoms.

Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that perceived social support significantly moderated the relationship between parental gender and PTSD symptoms. Specifically, mothers with low perceived social support exhibited the highest levels of PTSD symptoms, whereas fathers with high support showed the lowest. The final regression model explained 61% of the variance in PTSD scores. Perceived social support serves as a significant moderating factor in the relationship between parental gender and PTSD risk among parents of children with ASD.

Targeted interventions that strengthen social support-particularly for mothers-may help reduce PTSD symptoms and enhance the psychological well-being of caregivers in ASD-affected families.