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Introduction: Children with developmental delays (DD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are at a high risk for emotional and behavioral concerns. Research examining co-occurring anxiety in those with ASD during early childhood is scarce. The current study examined rates, symptom manifestation, and parenting risk correlates of anxiety among young children with ASD and those with a non-spectrum DD. Method: The study included a sample of preschool-aged children (M = 4.18 years) with ASD (n = 56) and non-spectrum DD (n = 43). Anxiety symptoms were measured using the CBCL, and parenting was measured using parent-report and observational methods. Results: Results indicated that those with ASD were at a greater risk for anxiety symptoms than those with a non-spectrum DD; however, ASD diagnosis did not differentiate the presentation of anxiety. Inconsistent parenting emerged as predictor of anxiety symptoms for children with ASD. Conclusions: Given the high risk for anxiety in individuals with ASD, it is important to identify and treat anxiety in young children with ASD. The current study highlighted inconsistent parenting as a potential target to address in future parenting interventions for anxiety in young children with ASD.

Introduction: Children with developmental delays (DD), particularly autism spectrum disorders (ASD), are at high risk for increased levels of behavior problems and developing internalizing problems. While previous literature has highlighted the impact of parental stress on the development of behavioral problems broadly in children with DD, research on the relation between parenting stress and internalizing problems in children with ASD is scarce. Growing evidence has supported Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as an effective intervention for reducing stress among parents of children with DD. These reductions in parent stress are also associated with subsequent reductions in their children's behavior problem; however, to our knowledge, the effects of MBSR and reductions in parent stress on internalizing problems in children with DD have not been examined. Method: The current study utilized data from Mindful Awareness for Parenting Stress (MAPS) which consisted of families of 80 preschool children with developmental delays (DD) whose parents reported high levels of stress. Specifically, we investigated whether decreases in parenting stress as a result of engagement in a MBSR intervention would lead to reductions in internalizing behavior problems among children with DD, and whether this relation was moderated by the child's ASD status. Additionally, we examined whether individual increases in the mindful facets of acting with awareness and nonjudgment, from pre- to post- treatment, would lead to reductions in internalizing problems among children with DD, and whether this relation was moderated by the child's ASD status. Results: Children of parents in the MBSR treatment group had greater reductions in internalizing problems compared to children whose parents were in the waitlist-control group, "b"= -5.71, "p" <0.05. We also found that children of parents who reported greater increases in acting with awareness post-treatment had a greater reduction in internalizing problems, "b"= -2.57, "p"<0.05. Additionally, children whose parents had greater increases in nonjudgment post-treatment had a greater reduction in internalizing problems, "b"= -1.85, "p"<0.05. However, ASD status was not a significant moderator in either analysis, "ps" >0.05 Conclusions: These findings have important implications regarding the relation between parenting stress and internalizing problems in children with DD. This treatment offers a novel approach to treating comorbid internalizing problems in children with DD. Parents' use of MBSR provides a method of early intervention, which may ameliorate the development of internalizing problems over time. The current study helps to inform future parenting interventions by highlighting the importance of addressing specific facets of mindfulness in interventions which may lead to greater reductions in internalizing problems in vulnerable populations such as children with DD.

Introduction: Studies have shown that parents of children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) exhibit higher levels of stress than parents of typically developing children or children with other types of developmental delays (DD). This relationship appears to be mediated by elevated levels of behavior problems observed in children with PDD. However, little is known about what specific child behavior problems are most common in this population or how these behavior problems relate to parental stress. We examined the relationship between parenting stress and child behavior problems in parents of young children with PDD. Method: The current study utilized data from the Mindful Awareness for Parenting Stress (MAPS) project and included 72 parents of children with PDD. The mean age of the parents in the current study was 34.81 years (SD = 7.67) and the mean age of the children was 3.86 years (SD = 0.98). Results: The most commonly endorsed classes of child behavior problems included attention problems, language problems, and externalizing behavior problems. Three specific behavior problems, "Doesn't answer when people talk to him/her," "Speech problem," and "Temper tantrums or hot temper," were significantly related to parental stress levels at intake. Furthermore, these three behavior problems uniquely predicted parenting stress. Conclusions: Identifying the behavior problems that are most difficult for parents to handle may allow clinicians to tailor interventions to the specific needs of families. The current study indicated that social difficulties, speech problems, and tantrums have the greatest negative impact on parental stress, highlighting these problems as ideal targets for interventions.

Studies have found that low marital satisfaction, parenting stress, and child behavior problems are linked in families of children with developmental delays (DD). However, previous investigations examining the relationships between parenting stress, child behavior problems, and marital satisfaction rarely examine the interrelationships of these three variables simultaneously, and the samples used are often restricted in terms of age and ethnicity, limiting generalizability. The primary aim of the study was to examine the associations between marital satisfaction, child behavior problems, and parenting stress in a diverse sample of parents of young children with DD. The study included 44 parents of children ages 2.5 to 5 years with DD and high levels of behavior problems who participated in a larger study looking at the impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in reducing parenting stress and child behavior problems. Marital satisfaction was significantly related to both parenting stress and child behavior problems, where parents with lower marital satisfaction reported higher parenting stress and child behavior problems. Additionally, preliminary analyses indicated that marital quality significantly moderated changes in child behavior problems from pre- to posttreatment but did not moderate changes in parenting stress as a result of the MBSR intervention.

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have higher rates of depressive symptoms than parents of typically developing children and parents of children with other developmental disorders. Parental depressive symptoms are strongly associated with problem behaviors in children; however, the mechanisms through which parental depression influences child behavior in families of children with ASD are unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parental depression and child behavior problems among families of children with ASD, more specifically to investigate the mediating variables that may explain the processes through which parental depression and child behavior problems are associated. The sample consisted of 33 parents of children with ASD (ages 2 to 5 years old). Findings suggested that authoritative parenting style significantly mediated the relationship between parental depression and behavior problems. This study highlights the importance of considering parental mental health and its impact on parenting behavior in interventions targeting child behavior problems.

Studies have found that low marital satisfaction, parenting stress, and child behavior problems are linked in families of children with developmental delays (DD). However, previous investigations examining the relationships between parenting stress, child behavior problems, and marital satisfaction rarely examine the interrelationships of these three variables simultaneously, and the samples used are often restricted in terms of age and ethnicity, limiting generalizability. The primary aim of the study was to examine the associations between marital satisfaction, child behavior problems, and parenting stress in a diverse sample of parents of young children with DD. The study included 44 parents of children ages 2.5 to 5 years with DD and high levels of behavior problems who participated in a larger study looking at the impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in reducing parenting stress and child behavior problems. Marital satisfaction was significantly related to both parenting stress and child behavior problems, where parents with lower marital satisfaction reported higher parenting stress and child behavior problems. Additionally, preliminary analyses indicated that marital quality significantly moderated changes in child behavior problems from pre- to posttreatment but did not moderate changes in parenting stress as a result of the MBSR intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]