Factors associated with functioning style and coping strategies of families with a child with an autism spectrum disorder

TLDR

Having a child with ASD places considerable stress on the family. A survey of parents/caregivers of a child with ASD was conducted to examine the relationship between ASD characteristics, family functioning and coping strategies. Primary caregivers of a child with ASD from a regional and rural area in Victoria, Australia (N = 53) were surveyed concerning their child with ASD, family functioning (adaptability and cohesion), marital satisfaction, self‑esteem and coping strategies. The caregivers reported healthy self‑esteem but lower marital happiness, family cohesion and adaptability compared with norm groups, and coping strategies did not predict these outcomes, underscoring the need for support programmes targeting family and relationship variables to sustain the family unit and improve quality of life.

Abstract

A survey of parents/caregivers of a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was conducted to examine the relationship between ASD characteristics, family functioning and coping strategies. Having a child with ASD places considerable stress on the family. Primary caregivers of a child with ASD from a regional and rural area in Victoria, Australia (N = 53) were surveyed concerning their child with ASD, family functioning (adaptability and cohesion), marital satisfaction, self-esteem and coping strategies. Results suggest that these caregivers had healthy self-esteem, although they reported somewhat lower marital happiness, family cohesion and family adaptability than did norm groups. Coping strategies were not significant predictors of these outcome variables. Results highlight the need for support programmes to target family and relationship variables as well as ASD children and their behaviours, in order to sustain the family unit and improve quality of life for parents and caregivers as well as those children.