Exploring the Association of Parenting Styles on Behavioral Outcomes in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Parenting styles shape behavioral outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet their influence in low-resource settings, such as India, remains underexplored. This study investigates how parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive) correlate with behavioral outcomes in children with ASD in India, and examines demographic influences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 82 parents of children with ASD (aged 3-17 years) at a tertiary care hospital. Parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive) were assessed using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ), and behavioral problems were measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and t-tests were applied. Results: Authoritative parenting predominated (mean score: 57.33 ± 9.55), linked to fewer behavioral challenges, while authoritarian (r = 0.37, p < .001) and permissive (r = 0.34, p = .002) styles were associated with increased difficulties, notably hyperactivity (6.66 ± 1.67) and peer problems (5.09 ± 1.83). Higher parental education favored authoritative practices (p = .007), whereas prolonged treatment duration worsened behaviors (p = .003). Conclusion: Authoritative parenting mitigates behavioral challenges in children with ASD, unlike authoritarian and permissive styles, which exacerbate difficulties. These findings underscore the need for culturally tailored interventions such as workshops addressing stigma, resource scarcity, and language barriers to promote adaptive caregiving in India. Policymakers should integrate parental education into ASD care to enhance family well-being.