Elevated parenting stress among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder is well-documented; however, there is limited information about variability in parenting stress and relationships with parent ratings of child functioning. The aim of this study was to explore profiles of parenting stress among 100 parents of young children with autism spectrum disorder enrolled in two clinical trials and potential relationships between parenting stress and parent ratings of child functioning at the baseline timepoint. Secondary aims examined differential patterns of association between parenting stress profiles and parent versus clinician ratings of child functioning. A k-means cluster analysis yielded three different profiles of parenting stress (normal, elevated, and clinically significant) using scores on the Parenting Stress Index–Short Form. One-way analyses of variance revealed differential patterns of parent ratings across the three parenting stress profiles on certain domains of child functioning (e.g. problem behaviors and social impairment) and family empowerment, but similar ratings of child receptive and expressive language abilities. Clinicians blinded to study conditions also rated child functioning, but clinician ratings did not differ by parenting stress profile. Findings emphasize the importance of identifying parenting stress profiles and understanding their relationship with parent ratings, with implications for interpreting parent-report measures and measuring child response in treatment trials.

Lay abstract

Elevated parenting stress among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder is well-documented; however, there is limited information about differences in parenting stress and potential relationships with parent ratings of child functioning. The aim of this study was to explore profiles of parenting stress among 100 parents of young children with autism spectrum disorder enrolled in two clinical trials and to explore relationships between parenting stress level and parent ratings of child functioning before treatment. Secondary aims examined differential patterns of association between parenting stress profiles and parent versus clinician ratings of child functioning. We show that stress may influence parent ratings of certain child behaviors (e.g. problem behaviors) and not others (e.g. language), yet clinician ratings of these same children do not differ. This new understanding of parenting stress has implications for parent-rated measures, tracking treatment outcome, and the design of clinical trials.

中文翻译：

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自闭症谱系障碍中的养育压力可能是父母和临床医生对儿童功能评分的差异的原因

自闭症谱系障碍儿童父母的养育压力升高是有据可查的；然而，关于养育压力的变异性以及与父母对儿童功能的评价之间的关系的信息有限。本研究的目的是探索参加两项临床试验的 100 名患有自闭症谱系障碍幼儿的父母的养育压力概况，以及养育压力与父母在基线时间点对儿童功能的评分之间的潜在关系。次要目标检查了育儿压力概况与父母与临床医生对儿童功能的评分之间的不同关联模式。甲_-均值聚类分析使用育儿压力指数-简表上的分数得出了三种不同的育儿压力概况（正常、升高和临床显着）。单向方差分析揭示了在儿童功能（例如问题行为和社会障碍）和家庭赋权的某些领域（例如，问题行为和社会障碍）和家庭赋权的三个育儿压力概况中父母评级的不同模式，但儿童接受和表达语言能力的评级相似。对研究条件不知情的临床医生也对儿童功能进行了评分，但临床医生的评分并没有因育儿压力而有所不同。研究结果强调了识别养育压力概况并了解其与父母评级的关系的重要性，这对解释父母报告措施和衡量治疗试验中儿童的反应具有重要意义。

抽象

自闭症谱系障碍儿童父母的养育压力升高是有据可查的；然而，关于育儿压力的差异以及与父母对儿童功能的评级的潜在关系的信息有限。本研究的目的是探索参加两项临床试验的 100 名自闭症谱系障碍幼儿父母的养育压力概况，并探讨养育压力水平与父母对治疗前儿童功能评分之间的关​​系。次要目标检查了育儿压力概况与父母与临床医生对儿童功能的评分之间的不同关联模式。我们表明，压力可能会影响父母对某些儿童行为（例如问题行为）而不是其他行为（例如语言）的评分，然而，这些相同儿童的临床医生评级并没有不同。这种对养育压力的新理解对父母评定的措施、跟踪治疗结果和临床试验的设计都有影响。