Mental Health Status of Caregivers of Children with ASD in Mainland China: The Impact of Stigma and Social Support in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often face significant psychological distress due to stigma, which impacts their mental health and life satisfaction. However, the specific effects of courtesy stigma, vicarious stigma, and affiliate stigma, along with the role of social support, remain underexplored. This study aims to examine the relationships among different types of stigma, social support, mental health (anxiety and depression), and life satisfaction among caregivers in mainland China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 123 caregivers of children with ASD from two cities in mainland China. Participants completed validated scales assessing stigma perception, social support, anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction. Correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, and Bootstrap mediation analysis were employed to test the hypothesized relationships. All three types of stigma were positively associated with anxiety and depression, and negatively associated with life satisfaction. Social support significantly buffered the adverse effects of stigma and partially mediated the relationship between stigma and caregivers’ well-being. Moreover, social support played a protective role in mitigating the psychological distress caused by stigma, though it could not eliminate its adverse effects. These findings highlight the pressing need for more effective social support systems, increased public awareness, and early interventions to reduce stigma-related distress. Enhancing support for caregivers of children with ASD is essential for improving their mental health and overall life satisfaction.