Razi University

  Mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face high levels of psychological stress due to the chronic and exhausting nature of caring for their child, which can affect various aspects of their lives, including health-promoting lifestyle. However, identifying factors that can explain this relationship is of particular importance. The present study aimed to determine the mediating role of self-compassion and perceived social support in the relationship between perceived stress and health-promoting lifestyle in mothers of children with ASD.This descriptive-cross-sectional study was of correlational type using structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all mothers of children with ASD in Kermanshah city in 2026. The research sample consisted of 232 mothers selected through convenience sampling. Data collection instruments included the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al., 1983), Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988), and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (Walker et al., 1987). Data were analyzed using    version 26 and AMOS version 24 software through structural equation modeling and bootstrap analysis.The results showed that the conceptual model had a good fit (?²/df = 1.920, CFI = 0.940, TLI = 0.950, RMSEA = 0.062). Perceived stress had a significant negative direct effect on health-promoting lifestyle (? = -0.26, P < 0.001). Perceived stress also had significant negative direct effects on self-compassion (? = -0.56) and perceived social support (? = -0.48). Both self-compassion (? = 0.34) and perceived social support (? = 0.29) had significant positive direct effects on health-promoting lifestyle. Bootstrap analysis results indicated that self-compassion (? = -0.19) and perceived social support (? = -0.14) played significant partial mediating roles in the relationship between perceived stress and health-promoting lifestyle. The total effect of perceived stress on health-promoting lifestyle was -0.59, and the research variables could explain 46% of the variance in health-promoting lifestyle.Based on the findings of this study, perceived stress, both directly and through weakening self-compassion and perceived social support, acts as a serious barrier to adopting a health-promoting lifestyle in mothers of children with ASD. These findings highlight the necessity of designing and implementing psychological interventions based on strengthening self-compassion and social support as effective strategies to reduce the negative effects of stress and promote the health and quality of life of these mothers.