Parenting satisfaction and broader autism phenotype associated with depression, anxiety and stress in caregivers of infants showing early autistic features

While parenting self-efficacy and broader autism phenotype (BAP) have been linked to caregiver depression, anxiety and stress at specific points in time, their influence on longer-term mental health trajectories remains unknown, especially for caregivers who participate in support programs for their infants with very-early autistic features. Through secondary analysis of a longitudinal randomized control trial dataset, using latent growth curve analysis we explored the pattern and personal predictors of caregiver depression, anxiety and stress trajectories over a two-year period in a sample of 100 families of infants with early autistic features (when aged 12 months to 3 years) where families had been randomized to receive a parent-mediated support program or community care as usual. While caregivers were estimated to have stable, low-level depression, anxiety and stress on average, for some individuals, stable and high levels of these were associated with low parenting satisfaction, and higher BAP traits of pragmatic language difficulties and rigidity. There was no evidence that participation in the caregiver-mediated support program had predicted caregiver mental health outcomes. Caregivers of infants with early autism features who themselves present with early, sustained mental health symptoms may benefit from additional specific mental health support. • Higher caregiver BAP traits associated with increased mental health symptoms. • Higher parenting satisfaction associated with decreased mental health symptoms. • A caregiver-mediated support program did not change caregiver mental health. • Caregivers with mental health symptoms may need additional support.