Parenting Self-Efficacy and Risk Propensity Among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Mediating Role of Coping Planning

Parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often requires far more than managing daily routines. The responsibilities borne by the parents are not only in navigating a series of difficult decisions but also in dealing with uncertainty and long-term consequences. Choices about therapy, schooling, and sources of support can weigh heavily on families, particularly when resources are limited or outcomes are unclear. Parenting self-efficacy (PSE) refers to an individual’s belief in their ability to meet caregiving demands and has consistently been shown to strengthen resilience, emotional regulation, and family well-being. However, confidence alone does not always lead to sound decision-making. This paper argues that coping planning, described as anticipating potential barriers and preparing strategies to overcome them, is the key process that turns parental confidence into effective action. Drawing on Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory and Schwarzer’s Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), a conceptual framework is proposed in which coping planning mediates the relationship between PSE and parental risk propensity. Parents who combine strong self-belief with proactive planning are more likely to take adaptive risks, such as pursuing evidence-based interventions, and less likely to engage in maladaptive risks, such as relying on unproven treatments. By synthesising recent evidence (2020–2025) across diverse cultural contexts, this paper advances a timely and globally relevant perspective on ASD caregiving. Theoretical and practical contributions are highlighted, including the need for structured coping-skills training, peer-support interventions, and policy-level initiatives within healthcare, education, and community systems. Together, these refinements position coping planning as the bridge that transforms parental confidence into constructive risk-taking, offering both conceptual clarity and actionable strategies for supporting families raising children with ASD.