# The association between parental resilience and emotional/behavioural problems in children with autism spectrum disorders: The mediating role of parenting style **Authors:** Haiyan Wang, Jing Zhao, Samson Nivins, Samson Nivins, Samson Nivins, Samson Nivins PMC · DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0329989 · PLOS One · 2026-02-05 ## TL;DR This study explores how parental resilience affects children with autism through different parenting styles, showing that resilient parents can reduce emotional and behavioral problems in their children. ## Contribution The study identifies authoritative parenting as a mediator linking parental resilience to better emotional/behavioral outcomes in children with ASD. ## Key findings - Parental psychological resilience is linked to increased authoritative parenting and prosocial behavior in children with ASD. - Resilient parents are associated with fewer emotional/behavioral problems in children with ASD due to reduced permissive and authoritarian parenting. - The findings support family-focused interventions for children with ASD. ## Abstract Parental psychological resilience plays a crucial role in addressing children's emotional and behavioral problems. However, the association between parental psychological resilience and emotional/behavioral problems of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) has been less explored. This study surveyed 258 parents of children with ASD(aged 3–18) who were receiving training at rehabilitation institutions in Shandong Province, China, using questionnaires. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling to examine the association between parental psychological resilience and emotional/behavioral problems in children with ASD and to identify the underlying pathways. The results indicated that parental psychological resilience is associated with increased prosocial behavior in children with ASD through increased authoritative parenting, while simultaneously being associated with fewer emotional/behavioral problems by reducing permissive and authoritarian parenting styles. This study provides empirical support for family-focused ASD interventions and adds to the growing body of evidence on their effectiveness. ## Full-text entities - **Diseases:** depression (MESH:D003866), impaired social interaction (MESH:C563663), Emotional and (MESH:D003072), behavioral dysregulation (MESH:D021081), ACADEMIC EDITOR (MESH:D007859), anxiety (MESH:D001007), deficits in social communication (MESH:D003147), Asperger's syndrome (MESH:D020817), Autism (MESH:D001321), externalizing (MESH:D017577), difficulties (MESH:D051346), aggression (MESH:D010554), Mental Disorders (MESH:D001523), internalizing (MESH:D000082122), DSM-IV (MESH:D006011), Conduct (MESH:D054537), emotional neglect (MESH:D058069), restricted interests (MESH:D002313), Hyperactivity (MESH:D006948), ASD (MESH:D000067877), Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MESH:D002658), Conduct Problems (MESH:D019973) - **Chemicals:** PONE-D-25-39253R2 (-) ## Full text _Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12875478/full.md ## Figures 2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12875478/full.md ## References 55 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12875478/full.md --- Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12875478