Hopelessness and depression in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders: multiple mediation effects of resilience and self-esteem

초록

While previous studies suggested that resilience and self-esteem may serve as protective factors against depression in parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), how these two variables differently influence depression between parents of children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the mediating effects of resilience and self-esteem in the relationship between hopelessness and depression and to investigate the differences in mediating pathways between the two groups. A total of 163 participants, including parents of children with ASD (N = 72) and parents of TD children (N = 91), participated in the study. The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were used as measurement tools. Multiple mediation model analysis (PROCESS Macro Model 6) was conducted. Results demonstrated that among parents of children with ASD, only the sequential pathway where hopelessness affects depression through resilience and self-esteem showed statistical significance. In contrast, two out of three pathways showed statistical significance for parents of TD children, with the pathway through self-esteem having a stronger influence on depression. This difference appears to stem from psychological and environmental differences between the two groups, suggesting distinct patterns in coping mechanisms when faced with negative situations. These findings contribute to understanding the relationship between hopelessness and depression in parents of children with ASD and suggest that psychological intervention strategies incorporating both resilience and self-esteem may be beneficial for parents of children with ASD.

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