Professional support and positive gain for mothers of children with ASD

Though raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often associated with stress, many parents report positive aspects as well. Access to professional supports may be related to positive gain, given that professional supports are related to decreased levels of stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between professional support and positive gain for mothers of children with ASD. Participants included 132 mothers of children diagnosed with ASD aged 4–21 years. Professional support and behaviour problems were found to be significant predictors of positive gain in mothers of children with ASD. The clinical implications of these results are discussed.