Parental Self-efficacy and Psychological Well-being of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Anjali Prakash; Madhulata Yadav

Parental Self-efficacy and Psychological Well-being of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Author(s)	Ms. Anjali Prakash, Dr. Madhulata Yadav
Country	India
Abstract	Parenting encompasses all actions related to the raising of offspring, including providing care, protection, and guidance to ensure children’s survival, socialization, and healthy development into autonomous adults (APA) Managing autism in a child is one of the most important journeys parents will ever take. Autism spectrum disorder is a complex neurological condition, often presenting challenges in communication, social interaction, and behavior. Every autistic child has unique strengths and challenges. Parents are usually among the first to notice early signs of autism. That means parents are also the first responders in seeking help and support. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects children differently, and as a parent or caregiver, they are central to child’s growth, well-being, and future success. Consequently, parents may face increased caregiving responsibilities and may need to continually adapt their parenting strategies to their child's changing needs. The demands associated with raising a child with ASD can extend beyond the immediate management of the child's difficulties and may influence parents' emotional functioning, coping, family relationships, social participation, and overall quality of life. Within this context, parental psychological functioning becomes an important area of research because parents' well-being can influence not only their own quality of life but also the quality and consistency of the care and support they provide to their children. Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in his or her capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments (Bandura, 1977). Self-efficacy reflects confidence in the ability to exert control over one's own motivation, behavior, and social environment. Wellbeing is the state of feeling healthy, happy, and comfort in life, encompassing physical, mental, and social health. The emotional well-being of parents directly influences the support they provide to their autistic children. Parental self-efficacy represents a significant psychological resource associated with parenting stress, psychological distress, and general well-being in parents of children with ASD. Consequently, evaluating parental self-efficacy alongside measures of parenting stress and psychological adjustment may be valuable when designing family-centered support programs. A narrative literature review design to synthesize the existing evidence on parental self-efficacy and psychological well-being among parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The review focused on identifying patterns, similarities and differences across studies and on understanding the factors associated with parental self-efficacy and psychological well-being. The study emphasizes the significance of self-care for parents, encouraging them to seek respite and emotional support when needed. Engaging in peer support groups and counseling sessions can alleviate stress and foster a more resilient caregiving environment. The literature uses a wide range of measures for parental self-efficacy, psychological well-being, stress, quality of life and related constructs. This variation makes comparisons across studies difficult. Future research should use well-validated, parenting-specific measures and more consistent assessment of psychological well-being. Stronger research designs and appropriate methodological approaches are also needed to provide more reliable evidence.
Keywords	ASD,Parental stress,Self efficiency,well-being
Field	Sociology > Philosophy / Psychology / Religion
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 5, September-October 2026
Published On	2026-09-20

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Parental Self-efficacy and Psychological Well-being of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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