Trust Me, I’m a Therapist: Investigating the Role of Mistrust in Mental Health Service Utilization and Well-Being among Black Mothers of Autistic Children

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the social, communication, and behavioral skills of children. Parents of children with ASD often face various challenges and stressors in caring for their children, which may affect their mental health and quality of life. Parent training programs are evidence-based interventions that teach parents effective skills and strategies to manage the behavioral and emotional challenges of their children with ASD. However, previous research has shown that Black mothers of children with ASD face multiple barriers to accessing and engaging in these programs, such as financial constraints, stigma, lack of cultural competence, and mistrust of the health care system. Mistrust of mental health professionals may stem from historical and contemporary experiences of racism, discrimination, and mistreatment, and may influence the perceived credibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of parent training programs. Therefore, this study aims to examine how mistrust of mental health professionals moderates the relationship between participation in parent training programs and mental health outcomes and quality of life of mothers of Black children with ASD. The study will use a cross-sectional survey design to measure quality of life as a function of psychological well-being and mental health provider trust while controlling for socio-demographic characteristics. The study will recruit a sample of 150 adults who identify as black, female, and a mother to an autistic child through convenience sampling. The participants will be administered online surveys that include the following measures: Dass-21, Autism Quality of Life Questionnaire – Parent Version, Mental Health Provider Trust scale, and Socio-demographic Questionnaire. The study will contribute to the literature on the effectiveness and accessibility of parent training programs for diverse populations and will provide implications for enhancing the mental health and quality of life of Black mothers of children with ASD.