title: Parenting stress in Chinese mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elevated parenting stress has been observed among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in western countries, but little is known about mothers of Han Chinese children. The aim of the current study was to further the knowledge about stress experienced by Chinese mothers of children with ASD by examining maternal parenting stress in Heilongjiang province of China.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, data about participants' demographic characteristics, parenting stress, anxiety, depression, child's behavioral problems, coping strategies, and social support were collected though a questionnaire survey. The participants included 150 families with ASD children, who were consecutively admitted to the clinics of the Children Development and Behavior Research Center in Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Disabled Persons Federation, and Mudanjiang Child Welfare Home.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants reported elevated parenting stress. Mothers' parenting stress was associated with levels of depression and anxiety, and child's behavioral symptoms. Child's behavioral symptoms, maternal anxiety, maternal depressive symptoms, and lack of governmental financial support were associated with overall parenting stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Government support may play an important role in reducing parenting stress in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College of Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150086, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yanjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiuqun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Caihong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Lijie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jianli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological