Parenting a child with autism comes with profound rewards — but also unique and often invisible challenges. A new study from Vietnam offers one of the first comprehensive looks at the three types of stigma — perceived, self, and enacted — experienced by parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the cultural and personal factors that intensify those burdens.

Published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, the study surveyed 846 parents across Hanoi, using structured questionnaires to assess their experiences. The findings are eye-opening: caregiver burden emerged as the strongest predictor of stigma, with other contributing factors including parental sleep deprivation, economic stress, marital status, and the age and severity of the child’s disability.

This research is especially significant because it reflects the intersection of autism, caregiving, and cultural context. In Vietnam, as in many parts of the world, social expectations and misunderstandings around disability create an environment where stigma can flourish — affecting not just autistic individuals but their entire families.

Key insights include:

• Perceived stigma: Parents feel judged by others in public or social settings.

• Self-stigma: Internalized feelings of guilt, shame, or failure.

• Enacted stigma: Direct experiences of discrimination or exclusion.

The authors call for personalized, culturally sensitive support from healthcare professionals, alongside early interventions that acknowledge both the child’s and caregiver’s well-being.

Reducing stigma isn’t just about awareness — it’s about addressing the daily realities families face, and building communities that embrace neurodiversity with empathy, not judgment.