Coping, social support, and family quality of life for caregivers of individuals with autism: Meta-analytic structural equation modeling

This study used the meta-analysis structural equation modeling (MASEM) method to explore the relationship between coping (positive and negative), social support, and family quality of life for caregivers of individuals with autism. Through a meta-analysis of 29 studies (N = 4864), the following results were found: (1) Positive coping by caregivers significantly positively predicted social support (β = 0.27) and family quality of life (β = 0.12). Negative coping significantly negatively predicted social support (β = −0.18) and family quality of life (β = −0.18). The social support of caregivers significantly positively predicted family quality of life (β = 0.30). (2) Positive coping and negative coping by caregivers had significant indirect effects on their family quality of life through social support (β = 0.08, β = −0.05, respectively). It can be seen from the results that social support of caregivers of individuals with autism partially mediates the relationship between coping (positive and negative) and family quality of life. In addition, the results of the moderator analyses showed that caregivers with spouses were more likely to reduce social support when they adopted negative coping than caregivers without spouses (p = .022). •The TSSEM method was used to determine whether social support has a mediating effect.•Social support plays a mediating role in coping, thus affecting caregivers’ FQOL.•Married caregivers adopting negative coping were more likely to reduce social support.