Moderating role of informational support in the relationship between credible authority and parental uncertainty in developmental disabilities: a preliminary study
Creators: name: Choi, Heejung
name: Seomun, GyeongAe
name: Son, Sung-Min
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: Medicine
Molecular Biology
Neuroscience
Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Science Policy

description: This study aims to explore the moderating role of informational support in the relationship between credible authority, representing expert information, and parental uncertainty. Data were collected from 111 parents of children under 18 with developmental disabilities or delays via an online survey. A social network analysis was conducted to construct a professional information network based on professional information sources and satisfaction levels, with eigenvector centrality representing credible authority. To validate the moderation effect of informational support between credible authority and parental uncertainty, this study employed the PROCESS macro v.4.2 model 1, the pick-a-point approach and the Johnson-Neyman technique. Participants were predominantly females aged 29–39, with children aged 3–6 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The findings revealed a significant interaction between credible authority and informational support, with stronger association at low levels of informational support (Mean − 1 × SD, effect = −271.147). The Johnson-Neyman technique revealed that the conditional effect of credible authority on reducing current parental uncertainty becomes statistically significant when informational support falls below 5.854. Findings suggest that expert-informed interventions may be most effective in reducing uncertainty for parents with low informational support, particularly during the initial diagnosis of developmental disabilities. The chronic nature of developmental disabilities requires parents to endure lifelong uncertainty about their child’s condition, with informational support serving as a vital resource to help them navigate this uncertainty.This study demonstrates that expert informational support is most effective in reducing parental uncertainty when informational support from acquaintances is lacking.Differentiated expert informational strategies are needed to reduce uncertainty depending on the level of informational support parents receive from acquaintances.An expert network analysis identified developmental center therapists as the most trusted providers after diagnosis, underscoring their role in reducing parental uncertainty. The chronic nature of developmental disabilities requires parents to endure lifelong uncertainty about their child’s condition, with informational support serving as a vital resource to help them navigate this uncertainty. This study demonstrates that expert informational support is most effective in reducing parental uncertainty when informational support from acquaintances is lacking. Differentiated expert informational strategies are needed to reduce uncertainty depending on the level of informational support parents receive from acquaintances. An expert network analysis identified developmental center therapists as the most trusted providers after diagnosis, underscoring their role in reducing parental uncertainty.