Scholarlink

Purpose <p>Emotion Dysregulation (ED) in children with ASD are linked to behavioral challenges, such as aggression, self-injurious behaviors, and anxiety. Parenting stress, often elevated in families of autistic children, also significantly influences child behavioral outcomes. However, little is known about the dynamics among parenting stress, child ED, and behavioral problems in ASD, especially during the early developmental period. The primary aim of the study was to examine the mediating role of child ED in the association between parenting stress and future child behavioral outcomes in toddlers/preschoolers with ASD.</p> Methods <p>The sample included 51 autistic young children aged 18–53 months and their caregivers. Parenting stress (PSI-SF), child ED (BRIEF-ECI), and behavioral problems (CBCL) were assessed, with 30 participants completing a 12-month follow-up. Analyses were conducted starting with Pearson correlations, followed by mediation analyses using the PROCESS macro to examine the mediating role of ED.</p> Results <p>Higher parenting stress was correlated with more severe ED and increased behavioral challenges in children. Mediation analyses revealed that child ED fully mediated the relation between parenting stress and child behavioral challenges. A significant mediation effect of child ED was found on the association between PSI-SF Parental Distress subdomain and child internalizing behaviors.</p> Conclusions <p>Child ED may play a key role mediating the association between parenting stress and child internalizing behavioral problems in autistic toddlers/preschoolers. Interventions targeting both parental well-being and child ED development could improve behavioral outcomes.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Brief Report: Child Emotion Dysregulation Mediates the Association Between Parenting Stress and Behavioral Challenges in Autistic Toddlers and Preschoolers

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月18日

查看全文
  • Munju Kim,
  • Deanna Swain,
  • Adriana Di Martino,
  • So Hyun Kim

摘要

Purpose

Emotion Dysregulation (ED) in children with ASD are linked to behavioral challenges, such as aggression, self-injurious behaviors, and anxiety. Parenting stress, often elevated in families of autistic children, also significantly influences child behavioral outcomes. However, little is known about the dynamics among parenting stress, child ED, and behavioral problems in ASD, especially during the early developmental period. The primary aim of the study was to examine the mediating role of child ED in the association between parenting stress and future child behavioral outcomes in toddlers/preschoolers with ASD.

Methods

The sample included 51 autistic young children aged 18–53 months and their caregivers. Parenting stress (PSI-SF), child ED (BRIEF-ECI), and behavioral problems (CBCL) were assessed, with 30 participants completing a 12-month follow-up. Analyses were conducted starting with Pearson correlations, followed by mediation analyses using the PROCESS macro to examine the mediating role of ED.

Results

Higher parenting stress was correlated with more severe ED and increased behavioral challenges in children. Mediation analyses revealed that child ED fully mediated the relation between parenting stress and child behavioral challenges. A significant mediation effect of child ED was found on the association between PSI-SF Parental Distress subdomain and child internalizing behaviors.

Conclusions

Child ED may play a key role mediating the association between parenting stress and child internalizing behavioral problems in autistic toddlers/preschoolers. Interventions targeting both parental well-being and child ED development could improve behavioral outcomes.