Examination of Bidirectional Relationships Between Parent Stress and Two Types of Problem Behavior in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Overview

Journal J Autism Dev Disord

Publisher Springer

Date 2014 Feb 20

PMID 24550079

Citations 60

Authors

Anat Zaidman-Zait

Pat Mirenda

Eric Duku

Peter Szatmari

Stelios Georgiades

Joanne Volden

Lonnie Zwaigenbaum

Tracy Vaillancourt

Susan Bryson

Isabel Smith

Eric Fombonne

Wendy Roberts

Charlotte Waddell

Ann Thompson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Path analysis within a structural equation modeling framework was employed to examine the relationships between two types of parent stress and children's externalizing and internalizing behaviors over a 4-year period, in a sample of 184 mothers of young children with autism spectrum disorder. Parent stress was measured with the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form and child behavior was measured with Child Behavior Checklist/1.5-5. Across all time points, parent general distress predicted both types of child behaviors, but not vice versa. In addition, there was modest evidence of a bidirectional relationship between parenting distress and both types of child behaviors from 12 months post-diagnosis to age 6. Results are compared to previous work in this area, with implications for early intervention.

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