Lovisotto, R., Caltabiano, N., & Hajhashemi, K. (2015). Parental stress, affective symptoms and marital satisfaction in parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 5(10), 30-38.
Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a life-long developmental disorder, responded to an online survey considering their stress experience, affective symptoms and marital satisfaction. As these parents sourced different programs for their children, type of program was used to assign parents to different groups in order to consider their stress, affective symptoms and marital satisfaction. The type of programs parents used included the Applied Behaviour Analysis (n=15); Early Intervention Centre (n=13) and no formal program (n=16). Parents of children with ASD in the ABA group reported significantly lower parental stress scores, lower affective symptoms scores and higher marital satisfaction scores compared to the other two groups. These results are suggestive of the beneficial effect that an ABA program can have on the family unit.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Method
2.1 Participants
2.2 Measures
2.3 Procedure
3. Results
4. Discussion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether there are significant differences in parental stress, affective symptoms, and marital satisfaction among parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) based on the type of early intervention program they utilize—specifically comparing Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) programs, Early Intervention Centres (EIC), and no formal program.
- Comparison of parental stress levels across different intervention types.
- Assessment of affective symptoms (depression and anxiety) in parents of children with ASD.
- Evaluation of marital satisfaction within the context of family adaptation to an ASD diagnosis.
- Application of the Family Adjustment and Adaptation Response (FAAR) model.
- Analysis of the influence of program intensity and type on overall family wellbeing.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterised by qualitative impairments in social and communication behaviour, and a restricted range of activities. With the prevalence of ASD on the rise, the impact this disorder has on the family is worthy of investigation particularly as the stay-at-home mum that could have devoted time and effort to care for the child is a less likely occurrence. Management of ASD is regarded as highly crucial in relation to the developmental process of ASD children. Research (Corsello, 2005; Harris & Handleman, 2000) has found that children who are diagnosed as young as two and start a management program at diagnosis, are more likely to gain greater benefits from a program than children diagnosed at later ages. Other research (Grindle, Kovshoff, Hastings, & Remington, 2009; Osborne, McHugh, Saunders, & Reed, 2008; Remington et al., 2007; Roberts et al., 2011) has considered different program types with some giving more positive outcomes than others. In particular, programs based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) have shown optimistic results for children with ASD compared to others.
The choices parents make for how they manage their ASD child can have impacts on their personal wellbeing. In this study we focus on those parents who have used an ABA program, and early intervention centre and those that have not considered any formal program. Programs based on ABA are highly intensive and involve up to 40 hours of intervention each week. Many studies (Ben-Itzchak & Zachor, 2007; Najdowski, Gould, Lanagan, & Bishop, 2014; Remington et al., 2007) have indicated that ABA programs efficiently remediate the intellectual, linguistic and adaptive deficits associated with ASD. Early Intervention Centres (EIC) are better viewed as an alternate to day care centres or preschools (McGee, Morrier, & Daly, 1999). They cater for children within a limited age range of four to seven years of age. EIC programs only offer 10 to 15 hours each week. EICs only show an increase in development for children who are 4-5 years old (Luiselli, Cannon, Ellis, & Sisson, 2000). To date research has mainly focused on parental stress and wellbeing of parents who have a child with ASD.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the challenges associated with ASD, the importance of early intervention, and outlines the study's research aim regarding parental stress and wellbeing.
2. Method: This section details the participant demographics, the measures used (Parental Stress Scale, DASS, KMSS), and the online survey procedure.
3. Results: This chapter presents the statistical analysis of the gathered data, showing significant differences in stress, depression, and marital satisfaction between the study groups.
4. Discussion: This section interprets the findings, relates them to existing family stress theories like the FAAR model, acknowledges limitations, and suggests directions for future research.
Keywords
Parental stress, parental depression, marital satisfaction, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Applied Behaviour Analysis, Early Intervention Centres, family adaptation, FAAR model, child development, mental health, parenting support, intervention programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research examines the impact of different early intervention program types on parental stress, affective symptoms, and marital satisfaction among parents raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
What are the central themes of the work?
The core themes include the psychological wellbeing of parents, the effectiveness of various intervention strategies (ABA vs. EIC), and the long-term adaptation of families to an ASD diagnosis.
What is the core research question?
The study asks whether parents whose children participate in an Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) program report different levels of stress, depression, and marital satisfaction compared to parents using Early Intervention Centres or no formal program.
Which scientific methods were employed?
The study utilized a quasi-experimental design, collecting data through an online survey and analyzing it using non-parametric statistical tests, including the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical background regarding family stress, detailed participant and methodological descriptions, the presentation of statistical results, and a comprehensive discussion of findings.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Parental Stress, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), Affective Symptoms, Marital Satisfaction, and Early Intervention.
What did the results reveal about the ABA program?
The results indicated that parents whose children were enrolled in an ABA program reported significantly lower parental stress and depression scores, as well as higher marital satisfaction compared to the other groups.
Why is the FAAR model relevant to this study?
The FAAR model provides a theoretical framework to explain how families construct meanings, develop family identities, and manage their worldviews when coping with the stress of an ASD diagnosis.
What limitations does the author address?
The author identifies limitations such as a small sample size, the inability to randomly assign participants to treatment groups, and the reliance on cross-sectional data.
What is the clinical implication of this study?
The study suggests that the type of early intervention program chosen for a child may act as a contributing variable to the mental health and relationship quality of the parents.
- Citar trabajo
- Karim Hajhashemi (Autor), Nerina J. Caltabiano (Autor), Rebecca Lovisotto (Autor), 2015, Stress, Affective Symptoms and Marital Satisfaction in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/313796
