'I am so fearful for him': a mixed-methods exploration of stress among caregivers of Black children with autism

Abstract

Parenting stress is correlated with negative child and parent outcomes. Accurate parenting stress assessments are critical to inform appropriate service delivery. This study used mixed methods to identify stressors influencing parents of Black children with autism. Twenty-two parents of Black children with autism participated in individual interviews; 19 of these parents also completed the Parenting Stress Index (4th edition). While we found some consistency between our qualitative and quantitative findings, the Parenting Stress Index did not capture key stressors parents described in interviews, including cultural factors (e.g., perception of provider pushback due to race), challenges related to single parenting, and neighborhood violence. We detail recommendations for family-centered and culturally relevant efforts to assess and address parenting stress in this population.

Keywords: African American; Black; autism; autism spectrum disorder; parenting stress; parents.