This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Families raising a child with autism may experience greater levels of stress, but new University of Kentucky research published in the journal Autism suggests that is only part of the story. The study, led by Amanda Duncan, Ph.D., in the College of Education, found that families raising autistic children reported not only greater stress but also greater resilience.
When researchers compared families experiencing similar levels of stress, those raising an autistic child demonstrated greater resilience. "This helps us see both the strain and the strength in these families at the same time," said Duncan, assistant professor in the Department of Early Childhood, Special Education and Counselor Education. "What these results found was that if you took two families, one raising a child with autism and one raising a child without autism, and both families were experiencing similar amounts of stress in their lives, the family raising a child with autism is going to be the more resilient family." Resilience can be found in the everyday ways families communicate, solve problems and adapt when something is not working.
"Resilience is not about having a perfect or stress-free family life; it is about how families keep adapting together," Duncan said. Duncan conducted the study with UK College of Education colleague Collin Shepley, Ph.D., associate professor. Both are board-certified behavior analysts and have extensive experience working with autistic children and their families in school and clinical settings.
The researchers analyzed nationwide, post-COVID data from the National Survey of Children's Health, representing more than 100,000 U.S. families. Previous research examining families raising children with autism has often focused on smaller or more localized samples or has not included a comparison group. For parents raising children with autism, the researchers said stress can emerge from the accumulation of demands that are part of everyday family life.
"Every parent knows how stressful family life can be: getting everyone ready for school, handling big emotions, keeping up with work and trying to stay patient when the day is not going as planned," Duncan said. "For parents raising an autistic child, those everyday moments can come with extra layers." A morning routine, for example, might also involve helping a child through a meltdown, preparing for sensory experiences that may be overwhelming, or packing familiar foods or comfort items. Families may also be navigating therapy appointments, school meetings, insurance calls, sleep challenges and child care needs.
"So, the stress is not just one big event; it is often the constant mental load of planning ahead, adjusting in the moment and trying to make daily life work for everyone in the family," Duncan said. Resilience can show up in everyday ways, such as creating a visual schedule before school, parents taking turns during a difficult bedtime or texting a quick plan before entering a crowded store that could be overwhelming for their child. Resilience can also include celebrating a small but meaningful milestone, such as a child trying a new food.
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