*6.4. Coping Strategies*

Coping consists of "cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage psychological stress" [69]. Both problem-focused (e.g., reappraisal, reframing) and emotion-focused (e.g., social support, spirituality, and respite) coping strategies are used by the parents of individuals with ASD [2,70]. Among the five coping strategies assessed by the F-COPES scales, three

strategies showed a significant change during the pandemic crisis compared to the financial one. Lower scores in Mobilizing Family to Acquire and Accept Help and Acquiring Social Support probably reflect the social distancing and other restrictive measures implemented by the government to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to resources and social networks was reduced. Families lost contact with relatives, family friends, and most importantly with grandparents, which in Greece usually spend long hours with their grandchildren and support families. At the same time, scores in Passive Appraisal increased. Parents felt less confident in their ability to alter the outcome of a health crisis compared to a financial one. It is probably to be expected that the locus of control when fighting a pandemic is more external than when facing an economic crisis.
