In one sentence
Among parents of preschool autistic children in Australian early-learning centres, mothers reported higher stress than fathers, and different child traits predicted stress for each parent.
What the researchers did
Researchers analysed surveys from 465 mothers and 216 fathers of 516 preschool autistic children in six autism-specific early learning and care centres in Australia. Parents completed a standard stress questionnaire and reported on child behaviour, social communication, repetitive behaviours, and daily living skills. Models tested which factors linked to maternal versus paternal stress while accounting for family background and overlapping parent pairs.
What they found
- Mothers reported higher overall stress than fathers.
- Culturally and linguistically diverse background linked to lower stress for both parents.
- Higher education linked to lower stress for mothers only.
- Mothers’ stress associated with behavioural difficulties, social-communication challenges, repetitive behaviours, and poorer adaptive (daily living) skills.
- Fathers’ stress associated mainly with behavioural difficulties, not the wider social-communication set.
- Poorer parental quality of life linked to higher stress for both.
What this means for families and therapists
- Different stress profiles between co-parents are expected — tailor support rather than assuming one “family stress” package.
- Mothers may need help across communication and daily living domains; fathers may need more focus on behaviour support — always ask each parent.
- Caregiver load also appears in our autistic burnout guide and self-compassion for mothers digest.
Limitations and what we don't know yet
- Observational; not causal.
- Fewer fathers than mothers; families already in early intervention — may not generalise to unsupported families.
- Australia-specific services and culture.
This is a plain-language summary of Maternal And Paternal Differences in Parental Stress and Children's Autistic Features Among Parents of Preschool Autistic Children by John J.R., Chua A., Eapen V., Autism (2026). Source license: CC-BY. It is not medical advice — talk to a qualified clinician before changing therapy.