Resources and Access Impact Parental Self-Efficacy in Caregivers of Autistic Children in Ontario Canada.

Caregivers of autistic children access many resources to support themselves and their children, but little is known about the impact of these resources on parental self-efficacy. To address this gap, we interviewed 18 caregivers of autistic children in Ontario, Canada about the factors and resources that have impacted their parental self-efficacy. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed four themes: Circle of Support, Mastery Experiences, Self-Care, and System Knowledge and Access. Study results support the tenet that mastery experiences are a primary source of self-efficacy, while also offering new insights into factors that can impact parental self-efficacy. Importantly, System Knowledge and Access was found to have an overarching and pervasive impact on parental self-efficacy such that service barriers and a lack of system transparency decreased caregivers' parental self-efficacy. Policy and clinical implications are discussed, including the importance of clear and transparent processes for caregivers to access services, shorter waitlists, and caregiver-centered supports.