Daily Mindfulness and Depressive Symptoms among Parents of Autistic Children: A Dynamic Structural Equation Modelling Study
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| Title: | Daily Mindfulness and Depressive Symptoms among Parents of Autistic Children: A Dynamic Structural Equation Modelling Study |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Lin Wang (ORCID |
| Source: | Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. 2026 30(6):1576-1592. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 17 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Parents, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children, Depression (Psychology), Mental Health, Metacognition, Social Support Groups, Child Behavior, Behavior Problems, Foreign Countries |
| Geographic Terms: | China |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613261439930 |
| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| Abstract: | Elevated depressive symptoms among parents of autistic children are well documented and associated with poorer mental health. Mindfulness has been identified as a protective factor against mental health difficulties, but its day-to-day associations with depressive symptoms in this population remain unclear. A total of 210 Chinese parents of autistic children participated in this 15-day diary study, during which they completed daily measures of mindfulness and depressive symptoms. The data were analysed using dynamic structural equation modelling. Results indicated that (1) parents' daily mindfulness and depressive symptoms exhibited autoregressive stability and showed significant negative reciprocal cross-lagged associations at the within-person level. At the between-person level, (2) higher perceived social support was associated with lower mean depressive symptoms and higher mean mindfulness, and it strengthened the negative cross-lagged effect of daily mindfulness on next-day depressive symptoms; and (3) child externalising problems were positively associated with parents' overall mean depressive symptoms and negatively associated with both parents' overall mean daily mindfulness and the autoregressive effects of daily mindfulness and depressive symptoms. Findings underscore the importance of fostering daily mindfulness within a supportive resource context and highlight the need to maintain the day-to-day persistence of mindfulness in families of autistic children with higher externalising problems. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1506480 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | Elevated depressive symptoms among parents of autistic children are well documented and associated with poorer mental health. Mindfulness has been identified as a protective factor against mental health difficulties, but its day-to-day associations with depressive symptoms in this population remain unclear. A total of 210 Chinese parents of autistic children participated in this 15-day diary study, during which they completed daily measures of mindfulness and depressive symptoms. The data were analysed using dynamic structural equation modelling. Results indicated that (1) parents' daily mindfulness and depressive symptoms exhibited autoregressive stability and showed significant negative reciprocal cross-lagged associations at the within-person level. At the between-person level, (2) higher perceived social support was associated with lower mean depressive symptoms and higher mean mindfulness, and it strengthened the negative cross-lagged effect of daily mindfulness on next-day depressive symptoms; and (3) child externalising problems were positively associated with parents' overall mean depressive symptoms and negatively associated with both parents' overall mean daily mindfulness and the autoregressive effects of daily mindfulness and depressive symptoms. Findings underscore the importance of fostering daily mindfulness within a supportive resource context and highlight the need to maintain the day-to-day persistence of mindfulness in families of autistic children with higher externalising problems. |
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| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613261439930 |
