Parent Dyadic Coping and Parent-Child Relationship Quality in Families of Autistic Children.

BACKGROUND: Within two-parent households, the extent to which parents are satisfied in their couple relationship is theorized to influence the parent-child relationship. Parents in a satisfying couple relationship are thought to be better able to jointly manage and cope with everyday child-related problems and stressors than parents dissatisfied with their couple relationship. METHOD: The current study conducted a within-couple cross-sectional examination of the associations between couple relationship satisfaction (actor and partner), parent-child relationship quality, and dyadic coping. Data was obtained on 186 families of autistic children aged 5-12 years. RESULTS: An actor-partner mediation interdependence model (APIMeM) was conducted, yielding a significant actor association between the level of couple relationship satisfaction and parent-child relationship, which was mediated by positive dyadic coping. In addition, mothers' level of couple relationship satisfaction was correlated with father-child relationship quality, and this association was also mediated by positive dyadic coping. CONCLUSION: Our findings can inform programs to strengthen parent-child relationship quality in families with an autistic child.