Abstract

Parenting Style and Parents Level of Stress having Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (CWASD): A Study based on Northern India

Author(s): Nishi Tripathi

The present study focuses on the type of parenting style used by the parents who were undergoing different level of stress when dealing with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

A total number 320 Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (CWASD), from two major cities of northern India were purposely selected for the study. Out of which most of the respondents were mothers (75%) and only 25% respondents were fathers. Two questionnaires (Parenting style Dimension Questionnaire and Parenting Stress Index-Short form) and demographic details were used to obtain information. The finding of the result indicates that the mothers’ tend to use more permissive form of parenting in comparison to the fathers. Authoritarian parenting style was used by parents with children having severe form autism spectrum disorder. Parents reported high level of stress when dealing with adolescence children as in comparison with pre- adolescence children and it was also seen that Permissive style of parenting was adopted when dealing with pre- adolescence children. The result also showed that most of the parents (81% in clinical range) were having high level of stress, hence proper counselling, therapy and training should be provided for parents for the most appropriate form of parenting style. The study will also provide suggestions for proper care and the most effective parenting style that should be adopted by them and also to provide appropriate coping strategies recognize to parents, especially mothers to combat their high level of stress. This study helps the parents to have a better understanding of the effective form of parenting, the effect of stress when dealing with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.