Associations between social support types and parenting stress in parents of autistic children and adolescents: Variations by child age group

Purpose: This study examined how different types of social support (emotional, instrumental, and informational) related to parenting stress in parents of autistic children and adolescents, and whether these associations varied by child age group. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 201 Chinese parents of autistic children and adolescents (mean age = 37.89 ± 5.99 years; 76.1 % women). Parents were categorized into three groups based on their child's age: younger children (3–5.99 years), older children (6–9.99 years), and adolescents (10–20 years). Parenting stress and social support were compared across groups using ANOVA. Associations between social support and parenting stress were tested using linear regression models. Results: Perceived parenting stress did not differ significantly across age groups. Emotional support was linked to lower parenting stress in all groups. Instrumental support was only associated with lower parenting stress among parents of adolescents, while informational support presented no significant associations in any group. Conclusion: Emotional support is an important protective factor in alleviating parenting stress, regardless of the child's age. Instrumental support may be particularly beneficial for parents of adolescents. Future parent–focused interventions should tailor support strategies based on the child's developmental stages.