Coping strategies as mediators of internalizing symptoms on quality of life in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder and typical development

IF 2.6 2区医学 Q1 EDUCATION, SPECIAL

Research in Developmental Disabilities Pub Date : 2025-08-06 DOI:10.1016/j.ridd.2025.105083

Agnieszka Siedler, Ewa Zasępa, Edyta Idczak-Paceś, Dominika Saad, Izabela Zębrowska

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often report lower quality of life (QoL) than their typically developing peers, yet the coping processes that underlie these differences remain unclear.

Aims

This study investigated which coping styles mediate the impact of internalizing symptoms (depression, anxiety, anger control difficulties) on children’s self-reported QoL and whether these pathways differ between ASD and typically developing groups.

Methods

A total of 172 school-aged children (80 ASD and 92 typically developing) completed standardized measures of QoL, internalizing symptoms, and four coping styles. Moderated mediation analyses tested coping as parallel mediators and diagnostic group as a moderator.

Results

Across both groups, higher internalizing symptoms were linked to poorer QoL. Problem-solving coping emerged as a protective mediator in typically developing children only, while other coping styles did not mediate symptom–QoL links in either group.

Conclusions

Problem-focused coping supports QoL in typically developing youth but appears less effective in ASD. Children with ASD derived immediate relief from palliative strategies (e.g., structured calming techniques), yet these strategies did not attenuate the negative impact of internal distress on their broader day-to-day well-being. Interventions that adapt problem-solving strategies to the needs of children with ASD may enhance their well-being.

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应对策略在自闭症谱系障碍学龄儿童生活质量内化症状及典型发展中的中介作用

与正常发育的同龄人相比，患有自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的儿童通常报告的生活质量（QoL）较低，然而这些差异背后的应对过程尚不清楚。目的本研究探讨了哪些应对方式介导了内化症状（抑郁、焦虑、愤怒控制困难）对儿童自我报告生活质量的影响，以及这些途径在ASD和正常发展群体之间是否存在差异。方法172名学龄儿童（80名ASD， 92名正常发育）完成生活质量、内化症状和四种应对方式的标准化测量。有调节的中介分析测试了应对作为平行中介和诊断组作为调节。结果在两组中，较高的内化症状与较差的生活质量有关。只有在正常发育的儿童中，解决问题的应对方式才成为保护中介，而其他应对方式在两组中都没有介导症状-生活质量的联系。结论以问题为中心的应对有助于正常发育青少年的生活质量，但对ASD的效果较差。患有ASD的儿童从缓和策略（例如，有组织的平静技术）中获得了立即的缓解，然而这些策略并没有减轻内在痛苦对他们日常生活的负面影响。使问题解决策略适应自闭症儿童需求的干预措施可能会提高他们的幸福感。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Research in Developmental Disabilities Multiple-

CiteScore

5.50

自引率

6.50%

发文量

178

期刊介绍： Research In Developmental Disabilities is aimed at publishing original research of an interdisciplinary nature that has a direct bearing on the remediation of problems associated with developmental disabilities. Manuscripts will be solicited throughout the world. Articles will be primarily empirical studies, although an occasional position paper or review will be accepted. The aim of the journal will be to publish articles on all aspects of research with the developmentally disabled, with any methodologically sound approach being acceptable.