Self-esteem, social support, and life satisfaction in Chinese parents of children with autism spectrum disorder

PurposeThe current study examined self-esteem, social support, and life satisfaction in Chinese parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and observed the mediation effects of social support on the relationship between self-esteem and life satisfaction.MethodsWe compared 118 Chinese parents of children with ASD to 122 demographic-matched parents of typically developing children on measures of self-esteem, social support, and life satisfaction using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), respectively.ResultsParents of children with ASD scored significantly lower on self-esteem, social support, and life satisfaction than the controls (ps < 0.01), and social support partly mediated the relationship between self-esteem and life satisfaction in both groups. Hierarchical regressions indicated that after controlling for demographic variables, social support and self-esteem were significant predictors of life satisfaction in both groups but explained more variance in life satisfaction for the parents of children with ASD.ConclusionsSocial support and self-esteem play a more important role in life satisfaction for parents of children with ASD than those of typically developing children. Life satisfaction is positively related to higher household income, higher self-esteem, and stronger social support for parents. Self-esteem is likely to be associated with greater life satisfaction by means of greater social support. Future research and interventions should focus on fostering a more positive climate of social support for ASD families in China.