Examination of cognitive emotion regulation strategies and self-compassion levels in parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

The aim of the study is to examine the cognitive emotion regulation strategies and self-compassion levels in parents of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The sample of the study consists of parents of 76 (49 female, 27 male) children diagnosed with ASD and 75 (59 female, 16 male) parents of typically developing children between the ages of 3-18. Demographic Information Form, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Scale and Self-Compassion Scale were applied to the parents. Independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA analysis were used to compare the cognitive emotion regulation and self-compassion levels of parents of children diagnosed with ASD according to demographic characteristics. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between the cognitive emotion regulation strategies and self-compassion levels of parents of children diagnosed with ASD. Independent samples t-test was used to compare the parents of children diagnosed with ASD with those of typically developing children. As a result of the analyses performed, the self-compassion levels of the parents of children diagnosed with ASD differed according to their gender. Fathers' self-compassion levels were found to be higher than mothers. No significant difference was found according to the parent's age, education level, income level, child's age and child's gender. In parents of children with ASD, a positive relationship was found between positive refocusing, refocus on planning, positive reappraisal and acceptance strategies and self-compassion; a negative relationship was found between self-blame, catastrophizing and blaming others and self-compassion. When the cognitive emotion regulation and self-compassion levels of parents of children diagnosed with ASD and parents of typically developing children were compared; the level of cognitive emotion regulation acceptance and positive refocusing was higher in parents of children diagnosed with ASD than in parents of typically developing children. The level of self-blame and blaming others was higher in parents of typically developing children than in parents of children diagnosed with ASD. The self-compassion level of parents of children diagnosed with ASD was found to be higher than in parents of typically developing children.