Coping strategies for stress in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: A cross-sectional study from North India.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition, often imposes significant psychological stress on parents. Identifying parental coping mechanisms is essential for addressing their needs and improving mental health. Aim: To explore coping strategies and their impact on parental stress. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 45 children diagnosed with ASD and their parents, all of whom were attending the Child and Adolescent Guidance Clinic at Tertiary care centre in Haryana. The severity of ASD in children was assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Parental stress levels were evaluated using the stress subscale of Hindi version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS). The Stress Coping Behaviour Scale (SCBS) was used to assess parental coping strategies. Results: The results indicated that 58% of parents experienced mild stress, with mothers reporting significantly higher stress levels than fathers. A significant association was observed between the levels of parental stress and the types of coping strategies employed. Most parents predominantly used adaptive coping mechanisms such as active coping, emotional support, planning, acceptance, and religious practices, while maladaptive strategies were less commonly adopted. Conclusion: The study reveals that parental stress levels positively correlate with maladaptive coping strategies and negatively correlated with adaptive ones. It addresses a research gap by exploring coping strategies among parents of children with ASD in India, a context largely overlooked in Western-focused studies.