Parenting stress whilst awaiting a child autism assessment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation of factors impacting parenting stress whilst awaiting autism assessment: Implications for early intervention
IRAS ID
363211
Contact name
Tim Fosker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
The proposed study aims to help us understand how the experience of parental stress for parents of children under the age of 5 awaiting an autism assessment is related to their child’s developmental delays, duration on the waiting list and parents’ beliefs about their own efficacy.
Previous research suggests that parents of children with autism experience particularly high levels of parental stress. Some research is available on parental experiences of waiting for their child's assessment, but this has typically been conducted with caregivers after the assessment was completed. Using an online survey, this study proposes to ask parents of children currently on the waiting list about their current parental stress, the delays in their child’s development and their belief in their own efficacy as a parent.
Understanding of the impact of different domains of child development, the effect of parental self-efficacy and the effect of length of time on the waiting list on parental stress would guide optimal times for early intervention techniques to be targeted, or if different needs are to be met.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
26/WA/0126
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jul 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion