The Predictability of Stress Coping Strategies and Psychological Capital on the Psychological Well-Being of Autistic Spectrum Children’s Mothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

There is an increasing number of studies concerned with the study of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). At the same time, there is a lack of interest in studies on their families, especially on mothers who represent the first breadwinner for a child who suffers from a deficit in social communication with others, reflected in their well-being (PWB). This study aimed to reveal the possibility of predicting the PWB of autistic spectrum children's mothers through the variables of coping strategies and psychological capital (PsyCap). The study used a predictive, descriptive research method to reveal the ability of the variables-coping strategies (problem-solving, avoidance, support, re-evaluation, remorse) and PsyCap (self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resilience)-in predicting the PWB of autistic spectrum children's mothers. The study sample consisted of (248) mothers, to whom coping strategies, PsyCap, and PWB measures were applied. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences between working and housewife mothers of autistic spectrum children in solving problems (t = 3.162, <i>p</i> < 0.002), avoidance (t = 1.973, <i>p</i> < 0.05), positive coping (t = 2.307, <i>p</i> < 0.022), self-efficacy (t = 3.667, <i>p</i> < 0.000), resilience (t = 3.338, <i>p</i> < 0.001), PsyCap (t = 2.866, <i>p</i> < 0.005), and PWB (t = 2.549, <i>p</i> < 0.011). Meanwhile, there were no statistically significant differences in social support, problem reassessment, remorse, negative coping, optimism, and hope. Also, there were no statistically significant differences due to the number of children in coping strategies, PsyCap, and PWB. The results also showed that there were statistically significant differences at the level of significance (0.05) between mothers whose age was less than 40 years and those 40 years and older in solving problems (t = 2.093, <i>p</i> < 0.037) in favor of mothers of the age group 40 years and older (M = 22.00, SD = 1.22), and avoidance (t = 1.987, <i>p</i> < 0.048) in favor of mothers under 40 years of age (M = 6.228, SD = 0.464). However, there were no statistically significant differences in social support, problem reassessment, remorse, positive coping, negative coping, self-efficacy, optimism, hope, resilience, the total degree of PsyCap, and well-being due to the variable of the mother's age. The regression analysis results showed that optimism and problem-solving contributed to (39.90%) of the total change in PWB for mothers of children with autism spectrum. The study's findings indicate the need to develop the ability of autistic spectrum children's mothers to solve problems and their PsyCap, which is represented in self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resilience, to enhance their PWB, which may have a positive impact on their autistic spectrum child.