KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Applied Family Therapy Journal (AFTJ) 3041-8798 7 Serial Number 32 2026 03 01 Predicting Child Cooperation Based on Child Anxiety and Maternal Stress in Children with Autism During Dental Interventions Predicting Child Cooperation Based on Child Anxiety and Maternal Stress in Children with Autism During Dental Interventions 1 9 10.61838/kman.aftj.1803 EN Journal Article 2025 02 11 <p><strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to predict the level of cooperation in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) during dental interventions based on their anxiety levels and maternal stress.</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials: </strong>A cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 32 children aged 3–6 years with a clinical diagnosis of ASD in Rasht, Iran. Participants were recruited through autism support organizations and underwent dental examinations at a private clinic. Data collection involved the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale, the Frankl Behavioral Rating Scale, and the Parental Stress Scale. Children’s demographic and behavioral data were recorded, and statistical analyses including Spearman correlation and multiple regression were performed using SPSS version 26 at a significance level of 0.05.</p> <p><strong>Findings: </strong>Results showed that both child anxiety and maternal stress were significantly associated with the level of child cooperation during dental procedures. Spearman’s correlation revealed strong, positive relationships between child cooperation and specific anxiety subscales, while maternal stress was negatively correlated with cooperation. The multiple regression model demonstrated that these two predictors jointly explained 52.4% of the variance in cooperation levels (R² = 0.524, p &lt; 0.001). Standardized beta coefficients indicated that child anxiety positively predicted cooperation (β = 0.244, p &lt; 0.001), whereas maternal stress had a significant negative effect (β = –0.225, p &lt; 0.001).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings suggest that both child-related emotional factors and maternal psychological states significantly influence cooperation during dental interventions in children with ASD. Screening for maternal stress and child anxiety before dental visits may enable more effective behavioral management strategies and reduce the need for invasive procedures.</p> https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/aftj/article/download/1803/7587