Background: Research suggests that children with ASD exhibit impaired executive function (EF). While studies have examined the relationship between EF and parenting styles separately in typically developing (TD) and ASD populations, few have explored this relationship simultaneously in Taiwan.
Objective: This cross-sectional study aims to examine the relationship between EF and parenting styles in youth with and without ASD in Taiwan.
Methods: Parents of a youth aged 10-17 were recruited online and in-person. EF was assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2 (BRIEF-2), where higher T-scores indicate poorer EF. Parenting styles were measured using the Taiwanese version of the Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire (PSDQ), categorizing parenting into Authoritative, Authoritarian, and Permissive styles. The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) was used for ASD screening. Descriptive analyses, Pearson correlation analyses, and independent samples t-tests were conducted. Results: Participants included 91 parents of youth aged 10–17 (TD: n = 57, ASD: n = 34). Youth with ASD showed significantly poorer EF than TD youth [t(89) = 9.81, p < .001]. Parenting styles did not significantly differ between groups. EF (Global Executive Composite) was positively correlated with Authoritarian [r(89) = .40, p < .01] and Permissive parenting [r(89) = .37, p < .01] but not with Authoritative parenting.
Conclusion: Poorer EF was associated with more authoritarian and permissive parenting styles, while no significant correlation was found with authoritative parenting. These findings highlight the relationship between EF and parenting styles, offering insights into occupational therapy interventions supporting families of children with ASD.