Identifying research hotspots in mental health for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: a bibliometric perspective

Parents are often the first to recognize autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in their children and play a crucial role in supporting their children’s growth and development. However, the psychological challenges faced by these parents, including stress, anxiety, and depression, are often overlooked. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the mental health status of parents of children with ASD using CiteSpace. The annual number of publications, core authors, country and institution distribution, major journals, keywords, and cited literature of 2778 publications were analyzed to obtain an overview of research and topical issues in the field. The number of these publications indicates that there has been an increasing interest in the mental health of parents of children with ASD in recent years. Weiss Jonathan A, Charman Tony, and Hastings Richard P are influential authors. The USA is the leading country and the University of London has the highest number of published papers. The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Autism, and the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry are the core journals in the field. The study identified three key themes: parental mental health symptoms, factors affecting mental health (e.g., problem behaviors, comorbidity, stigma, social support, and COVID-19), and interventions to address mental health challenges. This study underscores the necessity for ongoing research into the interactions between parental mental health and children’s symptom trajectories to mitigate behavioral problems. Priority should be given to the development of comprehensive support systems, leveraging digital platforms and fostering multi-stakeholder collaborations to enhance the well-being of families of children with ASD.