Parents’ Diagnostic Resolution and Activation: Examining a Mediation Model on Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes in Autistic Children and Adolescents

A diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder poses significant emotional and practical challenges for parents. Although diagnostic resolution and parent activation have been examined separately, little is known about whether parents’ psychological adjustment relates to active caregiving and, in turn, to child outcomes. This study tested: (1) a mediation model linking diagnostic resolution to child emotional-behavioral difficulties through parent activation; (2) psychometric properties of the Italian Parent Activation Measure for Developmental Disabilities (PAM-DD). We hypothesized that diagnostic resolution would be indirectly associated with lower levels of children’s emotional-behavioral difficulties through higher parent activation. Participants were 179 parents (87.7% mothers; Mage = 43.91; SD = 5.63) of autistic children aged 6–13 years (81.6% boys; Mage = 9.50; SD = 2.32). Diagnostic resolution was operationalized as a reliable reduction in negative emotional responses, and child difficulties were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) examined PAM-DD structure, and path analysis tested the mediation model, controlling for child age and time since diagnosis. CFA supported a two-factor model (activated and passive dimensions) with acceptable fit (CFI = .92, TLI = .90, RMSEA = .06, 90% CI [.05, .08], SRMR = .07). Resolution was associated only with the activated dimension (β = .19, p < .05), which was negatively related to children’s emotional-behavioral difficulties (β = −.25, p < .01). Findings suggest that psychological integration of the diagnosis may foster action-oriented parental engagement, which is linked to fewer child emotional-behavioral difficulties, highlighting parent activation as a potential intervention target.