Positive parenting and posttraumatic growth in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder in Türkiye

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) places a lifelong caregiving burden on families, especially mothers, who may also experience positive psychological changes such as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Understanding how family characteristics and autism severity influence parenting is essential for effective psychosocial support. The aim of this study is to examine the parental behaviors and posttraumatic growth levels among mothers of children diagnosed with ASD and to explore predictors of positive parenting. This descriptive study included 112 mothers of children with ASD attending a pediatric psychiatry outpatient clinic. Data were collected through a demographic questionnaire, the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, the Posttraumatic Growth Scale, and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Statistical analysis included multiple linear regression. The mean age of the children with ASD was 7.65 ± 3.76 years, and the mean age at diagnosis was 3.55 ± 1.62 years. Mothers reported varying levels of child dependence in daily activities, particularly in feeding (38.2%) and communication (27.9%). The regression model showed that posttraumatic growth scores, maternal age, number of children, autism severity, and time spent with the child explained 66.0% of the variance in positive parenting (F = 32.221; p < 0.001). Posttraumatic growth and number of children positively predicted positive parenting scores, whereas higher autism severity, older maternal age, and increased time spent with the child were associated with lower positive parenting scores. A significant positive correlation was also observed between posttraumatic growth and positive parenting behaviors. Posttraumatic growth plays a substantial role in enhancing parenting quality among mothers of children with ASD. Family structure and the severity of the child’s condition should be considered in family-centered interventions.