AUTHOR=Du Xiaoyan , Su Xiangdan , Ding Dandan , Zhu Yiru , Sun Yongrong , Wang Miaomiao , Xiao Yang , Xu Haiping 

TITLE=Relationship between family functioning and affiliate stigma in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder in China: the mediating role of positive aspects of caregiving

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1613340

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1613340

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=ObjectiveThe present research was conducted to examine whether family functioning is related to affiliate stigma in Chinese caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and how positive aspects of caregiving affect this relationship.MethodsTwo hundred and six caregivers of children with ASD were investigated using the Family APGAR scale, the Affiliate Stigma scale, and the Chinese version of the Positive Aspects of Caregiving scale. The statistical methods of Pearson correlation analysis and mediation effect analysis were used to statistically analyze the relationship between family functioning, affiliate stigma and positive aspects of caregiving.ResultsThe results indicated that family functioning and positive aspects of caregiving were negatively associated with affiliate stigma and that family functioning was positively correlated with positive aspects of caregiving. Furthermore, positive aspects of caregiving partially mediated family functioning and affiliate stigma.ConclusionThese findings suggest that family functioning can directly influence the affiliate stigma of caregivers of children with ASD and indirectly influence affiliate stigma through positive aspects of caregiving.