| dc.description.abstract | Due to the stress mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder experience (ASD), mothers turn to a variety of resources, including religiosity, to cope. This study examined the relationship between religiosity and maternal well-being. Christian mothers of children with ASD completed questionnaires assessing anxiety, marital satisfaction, maternal child perception, maternal ASD symptomatology, and several aspects of religiosity, including religious practice, spirituality, religious coping, and religious support. Analyses revealed that both maternal child perception and marital satisfaction served as mediators in the relationship between certain religiosity variables and a mother's anxiety. Specifically, a mother's daily spiritual experience, private religious practice, organized religious practice, and anticipated religious support predicted increased marital satisfaction which in turn predicted lower levels of maternal anxiety. Additionally, a mother's daily spiritual experience, organized religious practice, positive religious coping, and anticipated religious support predicted increased parental child perception which in turn predicted lower levels of maternal anxiety. Furthermore, mothers who showed more ASD symptoms themselves reported higher levels of negative religious interactions. Overall, religiosity can benefit mothers of children with ASD, yet may be difficult for mothers who show higher ASD symptomatology. | |
