Self-efficacy as a mediator between involvement in intervention and quality of life in parents of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Previous studies have suggested that increased parental involvement in intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may be associated with improved parental Quality of Life (QoL). This study investigates the mediating role of parental self-efficacy in the relationship between involvement in intervention and QoL in parents of children and adolescents with ASD. One hundred and eighty-eight parents provided self-reported measures regarding demographics, involvement in intervention, self-efficacy, child’s functioning and QoL (i.e., overall QoL and ASD symptoms-related QoL). After controlling for child’s functioning, structural equation modelling showed that (a) self-efficacy partially mediates the association between direct involvement in intervention and overall QoL, b) after accounting for the mediator, a negative association emerges between direct involvement in intervention and overall QoL (i.e., suppression effect), (c) self-efficacy fully mediates the association between direct involvement in intervention and ASD symptoms-related QoL, (d) self-efficacy fully mediates the association between indirect involvement in intervention and ASD symptoms-related QoL. These findings extend previous literature by revealing the key role of parental self-efficacy, and are relevant to designing interventions aimed at supporting and improving family adaptation processes.