Distress and Coping Strategies Among Parents of Autistic Children in Malaysia and the Netherlands

Parents of autistic children often experience high levels of distress, yet little is known about the associated factors and cross-country differences. This study examined the relationship between distress, self-reported autistic traits, associative stigma, and coping strategies among parents of autistic children from Malaysia and the Netherlands. Parents from Malaysia ( N = 41) and the Netherlands ( N = 154) filled in questionnaires about distress, autistic traits, associative stigma, and coping. Associations between these factors (structural equation modeling) and cross-country differences (Mann–Whitney U test) were analyzed. In both countries, parents’ own autistic traits were positively associated with their reported distress. Active coping was negatively associated with parental distress, and passive coping was positively associated with parental distress. Malaysian parents reported more autistic traits, associative stigma, and religious coping compared to Dutch parents. These results underscore the unique dynamics of parental distress, coping strategies, and self-reported autistic traits within different cultural contexts.