Impacts of affiliated stigma on depression and anxiety in Chinese parents of children with autism spectrum disorders: roles of parental burnout and spouse support

Although previous studies have proved parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were at increased risks of depression and anxiety, but their associations with affiliated stigma and the underlying mechanism are still unclear. The present study, based on a sample of Chinese parents of ASD children, aimed to clarify the impacts of affiliated stigma on depression and anxiety, and roles of parental burnout and spouse support in these relationship. A survey was completed by 652 Chinese parents of children with ASD using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Questionnaire, Affiliate Stigma Scale, Chinese Short Version of Parental Burnout Assessment, and the Support in Intimate Relationships Rating Scale. The results shows that rates of moderately to extremely severe levels of depression and anxiety among Chinese parents of ASD children were 42.33% and 39.58%. Affiliated stigma was positively related to depression and anxiety. Parental burnout played a mediating role in the associations between affiliated stigma and depression and anxiety. Spouse support moderated the relations of affiliated stigma with depression and anxiety via parental burnout. This study highlights significant associations consistent with a model in which parental burnout may serve as a mediator in the relationships between affiliate stigma and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Furthermore, the findings point to the potential buffering role of spouse support within these relationships. These findings offer a foundation for developing and testing targeted interventions aimed at alleviating depressive and anxious symptoms among parents of children with ASD.