Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptomatology in Parents of Autistic Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This review examines post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and associated factors, amongst parents of autistic children. A systematic review of the literature produced seven studies (N=1717) that met the selection criteria. A random-effects model showed that 24% of the aggregated sample experienced PTSD symptoms. Child behaviours of concern and parent mental health issues were associated with PTSD symptoms in the parents. The findings indicate that a significant number of parents of autistic children experience symptoms consistent with PTSD. The authors acknowledge significant heterogeneity across the reviewed studies. Two of the seven studies combined autistic children with those who have other developmental conditions, and only three directly examined PTSD symptoms related to parenting an autistic child. This study is important as it highlights significant gaps in existing research, emphasizing the need for focused studies on the unique challenges faced by these parents. Note for readers: The authors have chosen to use identity-first language when referring to individuals with an autism diagnosis (i.e., autistic child) as opposed to person-first language (i.e., child with autism). This decision was made in accordance with the recent neurodiversity affirming movement towards the de-stigmatization of autism, and research indicating that a large majority of autistic people prefer identity-first language (Botha et al., 2023; Bury et al., 2023; Izuno-Garcia et al., 2023; Taboas et al., 2023). Keywords: post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms; parent traumatic stress; autism; parent mental health.