Purpose
Parents of autistic children are at higher risk of having a more negatively impacted well-being (i.e., stress, quality of life, anxiety, and depression) compared with parents of children with other disabilities or typically developing children. This systematic review examined whether parental well-being is more negatively impacted considering cultural factors and child difficulties.
Methods
Following PRISMA standards, 18 comparative studies were reviewed, focusing on cross-cultural and cross-disorder differences.
Results
Findings consistently revealed that parents of autistic children experience higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, and a lower quality of life compared to parents of children with other disabilities. Those in collectivistic cultures may be more susceptible to impoverished well-being than those in individualistic societies.
Conclusion
Findings highlight the need to address parental well-being, particularly in collectivistic cultures. Limitations and future directions are discussed.