Factors influencing the mental health of autistic children and teenagers: Parents' observations and experiences.

lay abstractAutistic people are more likely to experience mental health difficulties compared to neurotypical people. It is very important that we understand what increases the risk for mental health difficulties, and what helps to protect against them. So far, research on this for children and young people has only investigated a small number of factors and these have been chosen by researchers and clinicians. This study took a different approach in which parents' expertise in their children was recognised. Parents were asked to tell the story of their autistic teenagers' mental health from diagnosis in early childhood through to the present, and to explain the 'theories' they developed about what affected their child's mental health - positively and negatively - and how. Parents believed a wide range of factors played a role. These include: (1) aspects of their child (e.g. their autistic traits, intelligence); (2) aspects of their surroundings (e.g. the efforts parents make to prevent and respond to their child's difficulties, features of the school they attend, availability of social activities); (3) changes their child experienced growing up (e.g. puberty, awareness of being autistic); and (4) life events involving loss and separation. Many of the factors parents identified as important have received little or no research attention to date. The findings suggest issues that should be considered in future research and reveal ways that support for parents and autistic children and teenagers can be improved.