Mental Health Status of Caregivers of Children with ASD in Mainland China: The Impact of Stigma and Social Support in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often face significant psychological distress due to stigma, impacting their mental health and life satisfaction. However, the specific effects of courtesy stigma, vicarious stigma, and affiliate stigma, along with the role of social support, remain underexplored. This study examines the relationships among different types of stigmas, social support, mental health (anxiety and depression), and life satisfaction among caregivers in mainland China. A cross-sectional survey of 123 caregivers from two cities assessed stigma perception, social support, anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction using validated scales. Correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, and Bootstrap mediation analysis were employed to test the hypothesized relationships. Results showed that all three types of stigma were positively associated with anxiety and depression but negatively related to life satisfaction. Social support significantly buffered the adverse effects of stigma, partially mediating the relationship between stigma and caregivers' well-being. Moreover, social support played a protective role in mitigating the psychological distress caused by stigma, though it could not eliminate its adverse effects. These findings highlight the need for more decisive social support systems, increased public awareness, and early interventions to reduce stigma-related distress and improve the well-being of caregivers of children with ASD.