UCLA

The present study aimed to examine the parenting hassle experienced by a group of low-resourced families with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study was a follow-up to a randomized controlled trial (Kasari et al., 2014), which investigated the efficacy of two treatment interventions. The focus of the current study was to examine changes in parenting hassle over the course of the interventions (entry to exit) and after the clinical support was withdrawn (exit to follow-up). The study also explored potential predictors of parenting hassle, including ethnicity, location, and family resources. The results of the study showed that family resources were the only significant predictor of parenting hassle, such that low family resources were associated with high parenting hassle. The findings also indicated that time and treatment did not have an effect on parenting hassle, and there were no interactions among the predictor variables (time, treatment, ethnicity, location, and resources). These findings have important implications for the support of families with children with ASD. Understanding the predictors of parenting hassle can help practitioners better support low-resourced families, who may experience greater levels of stress and burden. The study also highlights the need for continued support for families, even after the immediate post-treatment period. By examining the differences in parenting hassle between two treatment groups, researchers and practitioners may better understand the sustainability of benefits from different parent training methods, and ensure that support is provided to families in a manner that is effective and tailored to their individual needs. This study adds to the growing body of research examining the experiences of families with children with ASD. By focusing on low-resourced families and exploring the predictors of parenting hassle, the study provides insights into the needs of these families, and the support that can be provided to mitigate the challenges they face.