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Relations between Parenting Stress, Parenting Style, and Child Executive Functioning for Children with ADHD or Autism

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Abstract

Relations among parenting stress, parenting style, and child executive functioning for children with disabilities are not easily teased apart. The current study explored these relations among 82 children and adolescents age 7–18: 21 with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 33 with autism spectrum disorder, and 28 typically develo**. Results indicated that children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder had more executive functioning deficits, and their parents reported more parenting stress and a greater use of permissive parenting, compared to typically develo** children. In general, increased parenting stress was associated with greater use of authoritarian and permissive parenting styles, as well as more problems with behavior regulation for children. Authoritarian and permissive parenting styles were associated with poorer child executive functioning. Child diagnostic group (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, typically develo**) moderated relations between parent stress and child functioning, and between parenting style and child functioning. Implications for intervention with families of children with disabilities are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by a grant from the Autism Society of America Foundation. The authors would like to thank the participating children and families, along with Children’s Hospital, Lauren Kenworthy, Kerri Shiflett, and Greg Wallace for their roles in the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax,, 22030, VA, USA

    Lindsey Hutchison

  2. Battelle Education, Arlington, VA, USA

    Michael Feder

  3. University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Beau Abar

  4. George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA

    Adam Winsler

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  1. Lindsey Hutchison
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  2. Michael Feder
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  3. Beau Abar
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  4. Adam Winsler
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Correspondence to Adam Winsler.

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Hutchison, L., Feder, M., Abar, B. et al. Relations between Parenting Stress, Parenting Style, and Child Executive Functioning for Children with ADHD or Autism. J Child Fam Stud 25, 3644–3656 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0518-2

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