The Influence of Religiosity on Well-Being and Acceptance in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate religiosity, parental well-being, stressors in raising a child with autism, and acceptance of the disorder. Previous research states that religiosity can buffer the effects of stressors on well-being (Friedrich et al., 1988 Friedrich, W. N., Cohen, D. S. and Wilturner, L. T. 1988. Specific beliefs as moderator variables in maternal coping with mental retardation. Children's Health Care, 17(1): 40–44. [Taylor & Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]), and provide support and peace of mind (Tarakeshwar and Pargament, 2001 Tarakeshwar, N. and Pargament, K. I. 2001. Religious coping in families of children with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 16(4): 247–260. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]). Parents of children with autism (n = 177) participated by completing an Internet-based questionnaire. Results revealed correlations between most of the variables, and the association between stress and well-being was stronger for parents with lower religiosity. Implications for parents and religious organizations and directions for future research are discussed.