Internal and external factors related to anxiety and depression in parents of children with autism: the significance of psychological resilience

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and identify potential influencing factors. METHOD: A total of 411(352 boys, 59 girls) children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and their parents were enrolled from the Department of Developmental Behavior at the Affiliated Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine between January and July 2022. Depression, anxiety symptoms, psychological resilience, and the severity of autism symptoms of their children are reported by parents. Hierarchical multiple regression was utilized to analyze the relationships between the mental health of the parents and factors such as psychological resilience (internal), demographic data, and the severity of autism symptoms (external). RESULTS: Psychological resilience was identified as the most significant predictor of both depression (B = − 0.11, SE = 0.01, p < 0.001) and anxiety (B = -6.81, SE = 0.61, p < 0.001) among parents, while controlling demographic variables and the severity of the children’s symptoms. However, the severity of autism symptoms was not related to parents’ mental health problems. CONCLUSION: Attention to the mental well-being of parents with autism spectrum disorder children and enhancement of their psychological resilience are potential ways to improve the family’s mental health.