Stress and sense of competence in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder or Down syndrome

Background Parenting a child with a developmental disability is often associated with increased stress and lower parental sense of competence. This study is distinctive because it compares parental experience across autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome within mainstream schooling.Method A total of 107 parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and 162 parents of children with Down syndrome completed an online questionnaire measuring perceived stress and parental sense of competence. Socio-demographic, disability-related, and school-environment factors were also considered.Results Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder reported significantly higher stress levels and lower perceived competence than parents of children with Down syndrome. A multiple regression model showed that parental sense of competence was a significant predictor of parents’ perceived stress.Conclusions The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to support parents of children with autism spectrum disorder, focusing on stress management and strengthening parental sense of competence.