Similarity or Cumulative Load? A Response Surface Analysis of Autistic Traits and Parental Stress in Mother-Child Dyads
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Phenotypic overlap in autistic traits between parents and children may have contrasting implications for caregiving. Greater similarity may promote mutual understanding, predictability, and shared communication styles, potentially facilitating parent–child interactions. Conversely, when both parent and child show elevated autistic traits, their combined characteristics may increase caregiving demands and reduce the parent's capacity to respond effectively to the child's needs.We examined 115 mother-child dyads to determine whether congruence or mismatch in autistic trait levels was associated with maternal parenting stress. Mothers’ and children’s autistic traits were assessed using age-appropriate forms of the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2). Response surface analysis was used to evaluate two competing hypotheses. The Congruence Hypothesis proposed that maternal parenting stress would be lower when mothers and children showed similar levels of autistic traits, whereas the Discrepancy Hypothesis proposed that parenting stress would increase as the difference in autistic trait levels between mothers and children became greater. Finally, the Directionality of Mismatch Hypothesis predicted higher parenting stress when children’s autistic trait levels exceeded those of their mothers. None of these hypotheses was supported. Instead, higher autistic trait levels in both dyad members were associated with greater maternal parenting stress, with children’s traits showing the stronger association.
Source: PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints)
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204755252