Systems Analysis of Stress and Positive Perceptions in Mothers and Fathers of Pre-school Children with Autism

Overview

Journal J Autism Dev Disord

Publisher Springer

Date 2005 Sep 24

PMID 16177837

Citations 136

Authors

Richard P Hastings

Hanna Kovshoff

Nicholas J Ward

Francesca Degli Espinosa

Tony Brown

Bob Remington

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Systemic analyses of psychological functioning in families of children with autism have typically shown that parents report different experiences (e.g., stress) and that siblings may also be affected. The purpose of the present research was more explicitly to address relationships between child, partner, and parent variables. Parents of 48 children with autism (41 mother-father pairs) reported on child characteristics, and their own stress and mental health. Mothers were found to report both more depression and more positive perceptions than fathers. Regression analyses revealed that paternal stress and positive perceptions were predicted by maternal depression; maternal stress was predicted by their children's behavior problems (not adaptive behavior or autism symptoms) and by their partner's depression. The future testing of the mechanisms underlying these results is discussed. In addition, the need is emphasized for more systemic analyses to understand the psychological functioning of children with autism and their siblings and parents.

Citing Articles

Association between adherence to behavioral intervention and capability well-being among parents of autistic children: a cross-sectional study from China.

Zhang H, Chen S, Yu J, Niu X, Wang X, Wang L BMC Psychiatry. 2024; 24(1):922.

PMID: 39696063 PMC: 11657610. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-06394-8.

Trajectories of psychological distress for Australian fathers parenting a child on the autism spectrum: Evidence from early childhood to adolescence.

Seymour M, Pecora L, McMahon G, Wood C, Feinberg M, Hock R Autism. 2024; 29(1):182-194.

PMID: 39235165 PMC: 11656631. DOI: 10.1177/13623613241272005.

Posttraumatic growth: the role of perceptions, coping and depressive symptoms among mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Greece.

Tsioka E, Zacharia D, Soulis S, Mantas C, Petrikis P, Koullourou I Int J Dev Disabil. 2024; 70(5):925-934.

PMID: 39131762 PMC: 11308954. DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2022.2151693.

Development and evaluation of a family-child reading picture book on reducing autism spectrum disorder caregivers' psychological stress: a mixed method study.

Yang L, Ye J, Zhu H, Tang Y, Li X Front Psychiatry. 2024; 15:1390430.

PMID: 38863613 PMC: 11165404. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1390430.

Depression and parental distress among caregivers of autistic children: a serial mediator analysis in caregivers of autistic children.

Demirpence Secinti D, Dis D, Albayrak Z, Sen E BMC Psychol. 2024; 12(1):339.

PMID: 38858797 PMC: 11165892. DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01704-x.

References

Fisman S, Wolf L, Ellison D, Gillis B, Freeman T, Szatmari P . Risk and protective factors affecting the adjustment of siblings of children with chronic disabilities. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1996; 35(11):1532-41. DOI: 10.1097/00004583-199611000-00023. View

Hastings R . Brief report: Behavioral adjustment of siblings of children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2003; 33(1):99-104. DOI: 10.1023/a:1022290723442. View

Gavidia-Payne S, Stoneman Z . Family predictors of maternal and paternal involvement in programs for young children with disabilities. Child Dev. 1997; 68(4):701-17. View

Bebko J, Konstantareas M, Springer J . Parent and professional evaluations of family stress associated with characteristics of autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 1987; 17(4):565-76. DOI: 10.1007/BF01486971. View

Roach M, Orsmond G, Barratt M . Mothers and fathers of children with Down syndrome: parental stress and involvement in childcare. Am J Ment Retard. 1999; 104(5):422-36. DOI: 10.1352/0895-8017(1999)104<0422:MAFOCW>2.0.CO;2. View

Glidden L, Floyd F . Disaggregating parental depression and family stress in assessing families of children with developmental disabilities: a multisample analysis. Am J Ment Retard. 1997; 102(3):250-66. DOI: 10.1352/0895-8017(1997)102<0250:DPDAFS>2.0.CO;2. View

Rodrigue J, Morgan S, Geffken G . Psychosocial adaptation of fathers of children with autism, Down syndrome, and normal development. J Autism Dev Disord. 1992; 22(2):249-63. DOI: 10.1007/BF01058154. View

Koegel R, Schreibman L, Loos L, Dunlap G, ROBBINS F, Plienis A . Consistent stress profiles in mothers of children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 1992; 22(2):205-16. DOI: 10.1007/BF01058151. View

Friedrich W, Greenberg M, Crnic K . A short-form of the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress. Am J Ment Defic. 1983; 88(1):41-8. View

10.

Bagenholm A, Gillberg C . Psychosocial effects on siblings of children with autism and mental retardation: a population-based study. J Ment Defic Res. 1991; 35 ( Pt 4):291-307. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.1991.tb00403.x. View

11.

Factor D, Perry A, Freeman N . Stress, social support, and respite care use in families with autistic children. J Autism Dev Disord. 1990; 20(1):139-46. DOI: 10.1007/BF02206863. View

12.

Hastings R, Taunt H . Positive perceptions in families of children with developmental disabilities. Am J Ment Retard. 2002; 107(2):116-27. DOI: 10.1352/0895-8017(2002)107<0116:PPIFOC>2.0.CO;2. View

13.

Bouma R, Schweitzer R . The impact of chronic childhood illness on family stress: a comparison between autism and cystic fibrosis. J Clin Psychol. 1990; 46(6):722-30. DOI: 10.1002/1097-4679(199011)46:6<722::aid-jclp2270460605>3.0.co;2-6. View

14.

Essex E, Seltzer M, Krauss M . Differences in coping effectiveness and well-being among aging mothers and fathers of adults with mental retardation. Am J Ment Retard. 1999; 104(6):545-63. DOI: 10.1352/0895-8017(1999)104<0545:DICEAW>2.0.CO;2. View

15.

Hastings R, Johnson E . Stress in UK families conducting intensive home-based behavioral intervention for their young child with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2001; 31(3):327-36. DOI: 10.1023/a:1010799320795. View

16.

Hastings R . Child behaviour problems and partner mental health as correlates of stress in mothers and fathers of children with autism. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2003; 47(Pt 4-5):231-7. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2788.2003.00485.x. View

17.

Zigmond A, SNAITH R . The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983; 67(6):361-70. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x. View

18.

Howlin P . Living with impairment: the effects on children of having an autistic sibling. Child Care Health Dev. 1988; 14(6):395-408. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.1988.tb00591.x. View

19.

Lord C, Rutter M, Le Couteur A . Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised: a revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 1994; 24(5):659-85. DOI: 10.1007/BF02172145. View

20.

Moes D, Koegel R, Schreibman L, Loos L . Stress profiles for mothers and fathers of children with autism. Psychol Rep. 1992; 71(3 Pt 2):1272-4. DOI: 10.2466/pr0.1992.71.3f.1272. View