The Mediating Role of Parental Self-efficacy in the Relationship Between Social Loneliness and Family Quality of Life Among Mothers of Children With Autism

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exerts significant impacts on family life. Elevated levels of anxiety, stress, isolation, and uncertainty among parents and family members of children with ASD are common consequences.  Objectives: This study aimed to examine the mediating role of parental self-efficacy in the relationship between social loneliness and family quality of life (QoL) among mothers of children with ASD in Mashhad, Iran. Materials Methods: This cross-sectional study employed structural equation modeling. The population consisted of all mothers with children aged 4 to 12 years with ASD in Mashhad in 2023. A convenience sample of 372 mothers was selected from rehabilitation, educational, and therapeutic centers for autism in the city. Data were collected using the family QoL scale, the UCLA loneliness scale (ULS), and the parenting self-agency measure (PSAM) scale. Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling were conducted using SPSS and AMOS software, version 24. Results: Results indicated significant correlations between social loneliness and family QoL (r=-0.53, P 0.001), social loneliness and parental self-efficacy (r=-0.60, P 0.001), and parental self-efficacy and family QoL (r=0.48, P 0.001) among mothers of children with ASD. The relationship between social loneliness and family QoL was significantly mediated by parental self-efficacy (P 0.001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that parental self-efficacy plays a crucial role in mitigating the negative impact of social loneliness on family QoL among mothers of children with ASD. The results underscore the importance of considering both social loneliness and parental self-efficacy when designing interventions to support families of children with ASD.