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<p>Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in China experience affiliate stigma and reduced quality of life (QoL), but the systemic interplay between these factors is unclear. This study used network analysis to map the psychological system connecting affiliate stigma dimensions (affective, cognitive, behavioral) and QoL components (subjective QoL, parenting distress) to identify central components for intervention.&#xa0;A sample of 276 Chinese parents of children with ASD completed measures of affiliate stigma and QoL. A Gaussian Graphical Model was estimated, and centrality indices were computed to identify the most influential nodes. The stability of the network structure and centrality estimates was assessed using case-dropping bootstrap procedures.&#xa0;The network structure was stable. Strong links emerged between behavioral stigma and parenting distress (positive), and between cognitive stigma and subjective QoL (negative). Behavioral stigma was the most central node, a finding with acceptable stability. An exploratory moderation analysis of social support exhibited low stability and was therefore requiring cautious interpretation.&#xa0;Behavioral stigma (i.e., avoidance and withdrawal) is a critical hub in the psychological distress system for Chinese parents of children with ASD. This suggests clinical interventions should prioritize addressing these maladaptive coping behaviors as a primary pathway to disrupt stigma-related distress and improve parental well-being.</p>

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The Centrality of Behavioral Stigma: A Network Analysis of Affiliate Stigma and Quality of Life in Chinese Parents of Children with Autism

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月4日

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  • Min Sun,
  • Xuan Xu,
  • Kuai Song,
  • Xiaojun Sun,
  • Cuiying Fan

摘要

Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in China experience affiliate stigma and reduced quality of life (QoL), but the systemic interplay between these factors is unclear. This study used network analysis to map the psychological system connecting affiliate stigma dimensions (affective, cognitive, behavioral) and QoL components (subjective QoL, parenting distress) to identify central components for intervention. A sample of 276 Chinese parents of children with ASD completed measures of affiliate stigma and QoL. A Gaussian Graphical Model was estimated, and centrality indices were computed to identify the most influential nodes. The stability of the network structure and centrality estimates was assessed using case-dropping bootstrap procedures. The network structure was stable. Strong links emerged between behavioral stigma and parenting distress (positive), and between cognitive stigma and subjective QoL (negative). Behavioral stigma was the most central node, a finding with acceptable stability. An exploratory moderation analysis of social support exhibited low stability and was therefore requiring cautious interpretation. Behavioral stigma (i.e., avoidance and withdrawal) is a critical hub in the psychological distress system for Chinese parents of children with ASD. This suggests clinical interventions should prioritize addressing these maladaptive coping behaviors as a primary pathway to disrupt stigma-related distress and improve parental well-being.