title: Maternal parenting behavior and child behavior problems in families of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: Parents of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face specific challenges in parenting, but concrete parenting behavior has never been properly investigated in these families. This exploratory questionnaire study compared parenting behaviors among mothers of children and adolescents with ASD (n = 552) and without ASD (n = 437) and examined associations between child behavior problems and parenting behavior. Results showed that mothers of children with ASD reported significantly lower scores on Rules and Discipline and higher scores on Positive Parenting, Stimulating the Development, and Adapting the Environment. Age was differently related to parenting behavior in the ASD versus control group. Furthermore, distinctive correlation patterns between parenting behavior and externalizing or internalizing behavior problems were found for both groups.
authors.affiliation: Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32, Box 3765, 3000, Leuven, Belgium, jarymke.maljaars@ppw.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Jarymke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maljaars
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boonen
authors.forename: Greet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lambrechts
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Leeuwen
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Noens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001530:Belgium; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands; D016487:Parenting; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires