title: Is there a bidirectional relationship between maternal well-being and child behavior problems in autism spectrum disorders? Longitudinal analysis of a population-defined sample of young children.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine whether the relationship between maternal psychological well-being and behavior problems in children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is bidirectional. Data were available at 9 months, 3 years, and 5 years old for 132 children with ASD, identified from a population-representative sample of UK children. Three-wave cross-lagged models examined reciprocal effects between child behavior and maternal well-being (psychological distress, physical health functioning, and life satisfaction). Results indicated that the relationships between maternal well-being and child problem behaviors were not bidirectional. Specifically, findings suggested that while early behavior problems are not a risk factor for later maternal well-being, maternal psychological distress, physical health limitations, and lower life satisfaction are risk factors for later child behavior problems.
authors: School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, UK. v.totsika@bangor.ac.uk
authors: Vasiliki
authors: V
authors: Totsika
authors: Richard P
authors: RP
authors: Hastings
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Emerson
authors: Gillian A
authors: GA
authors: Lancaster
authors: Damon M
authors: DM
authors: Berridge
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Vagenas
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology