Patterns of interparental conflict and psychological distress among Australian mothers of autistic children

TL;DR

This study finds that mothers of autistic children experience more interparental conflict and psychological distress compared to mothers of non-autistic children, especially when their children are young.

Contribution

The study identifies distinct interparental conflict trajectories and their association with psychological distress in mothers of autistic children over a 10-year period.

Findings

Mothers of autistic children reported significantly greater interparental conflict than mothers of non-autistic children, peaking at child ages 4–5 years.

Two interparental conflict trajectories were identified: consistently low and persistently elevated, with the latter linked to greater psychological distress.

Tailored support for mothers of autistic children could reduce interparental conflict and improve maternal well-being.

Abstract

Mothers of autistic children often face unique emotional and financial challenges, contributing to heightened stress, poorer mental health and increased interparental conflict. This study examined interparental conflict over a 10-year period (child ages 4–14 years) among mothers of autistic children. The objectives were to: (1) compare interparental conflict levels between mothers of autistic and non-autistic children; (2) identify distinct interparental conflict trajectories among mothers of autistic children; and (3) examine the relationship between interparental conflict trajectories and mothers’ psychological distress when their children were age 14 years. Data were drawn from six waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. There were 333 mothers of autistic children and 8145 mothers of non-autistic children. Mothers of autistic children reported significantly greater interparental conflict than mothers of non-autistic children, peaking at child ages 4–5 years. Two interparental conflict trajectories were identified for mothers of autistic children: consistently low and persistently elevated, with the latter associated with greater psychological distress. These results highlight the importance of tailored support for mothers of autistic children to reduce interparental conflict and improve maternal well-being, ultimately strengthening overall family functioning.

Mothers raising autistic children often deal with more emotional and financial stress than mothers of non-autistic children, which can lead to more frequent interparental conflict. This study looked at how interparental conflict changed over 10 years, from when children were 4 to 14 years old. Researchers analysed data from a large, longitudinal Australian study of children. They compared two groups: 333 mothers of autistic children and 8145 mothers of non-autistic children. The study aimed to: (1) examine differences in interparental conflict between the two groups, (2) identify distinct patterns of interparental conflict among mothers of autistic children and (3) explore how these patterns related to mothers’ psychological distress when their children were 14 years old. Mothers of autistic children experienced more interparental conflict than mothers of non-autistic children, particularly when their children were 4 to 5 years old. Two distinct interparental conflict patterns emerged among mothers of autistic children: one group experienced consistently low interparental conflict, while the other reported persistently elevated interparental conflict. Mothers in the persistently elevated interparental conflict group also reported greater psychological distress compared to those in the consistently low interparental conflict group. These results highlight the need for more personalised support for mothers of autistic children to help reduce interparental conflict and improve maternal well-being.

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