The present research aims to examine the mental welfare of parents to autistic children, the degree of so cial support they receive and their perceived satisfaction with it, and how these variables affect their cou plehood. The research population included parents of children between the ages of 4 and 17 diagnosed within the autistic spectrum. Each parent (within 33 couples) received a personal questionnaire, which was completed by 32 women and 23 men. The research questionnaire was composed of four measures: demographics ; degree of child ’ s autism ; social support ; and mental wellbeing and closeness/distance in the marital relationship . We found that social and familial support is statistically related to positive mari tal relationships and that the older the child, the less emotional wellbeing is felt by the parents and the more distant their relationship.
KeywordsAutistic ChildrenMarital RelationsWell BeingSocial Support
Abbott, D. A., & Meredith, W. H. (1986). Strengths of parents with retarded children. Family Relations, 35, 371-375. doi:10.2307/584363
Baker-Ericzen, M. J., Brookman-Frazee, L., & Stahmer, A. (2005). Stress levels and adaptability in parents of toddlers with and without autism spectrum disorders. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 30, 194-204. doi:10.2511/rpsd.30.4.194
Bal, S., Crombez, G., Van Oost, P., & Debourdeaudhuij, I. (2003). The role of social support in well-being and coping with self-reported stressful events in adolescents. Journal of Child Abuse and Neglect, 27, 1377-1395. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2003.06.002
Baum, M. H. (1962). Some dynamic factors affecting family adjustment to the handicapped child. Exceptional Children, 28, 387-392.
Baxter, C., Cummins, R., & Yiolitis, L. (2000). Parental stress attributed to family members with and without disability: A longitudinal study. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 25, 105-118. doi:10.1080/13269780050033526
Bayat, M. (2007). Evidence of resilience in families of children with autism. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 51, 702-714. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2007.00960.x
Beck, A., Daley, D., Hastings, R. P., & Stevenson, J. (2004). Mothers’ expressed emotion towards children with and without intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 48, 628-638. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2003.00564.x
Benson, B. A., & Gross, A. M. (1989). The effect of a congenitally handicapped child upon the marital dyad: A review of the literature. Clinical Psychology Review, 9, 747-758. doi:10.1016/0272-7358(89)90021-4
Benzies, K., & Mychasiuk, R. (2009). Fostering family resiliency: A review of the key protective factors. Child and Family Social Work, 14, 103-114. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2206.2008.00586.x
Black, K., & Lobo, M. (2008). A conceptual review of family resilience factors. Journal of Family Nursing, 14, 33-55. doi:10.1177/1074840707312237
Boyd, B. A. (2002). Examining the relationship between stress and lack of social support in mothers of children with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 17, 208-214. doi:10.1177/10883576020170040301
Bristol, M., Gallagher, J., & Schopler, E. (1988). Mothers and fathers of young developmentally disabled and non-disabled boys: Adaptation and spousal support. Development Psychology, 24, 441-451. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.24.3.441
Brobst, J., Clopton, J., & Hendrick, S. (2009). Parenting children with autism spectrum disorders: The couple’s relationship. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 24, 38-49. doi:10.1177/1088357608323699
Carbonell, D. M., Reinherz, H. Z., Giaconia, R. M., Stashwick, C. K., Paradis, A. D., & Beardslee, W. R. (2002). Adolescent protective factors promoting resilience in young adults at risk for depression. Child Adolescent Social Work Journal, 19, 393-412. doi:10.1023/A:1020274531345
Carr, J. (1988). Six weeks to twenty one years: A londitudinal study of children with down syndrome and their families. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 29, 407-431. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.1988.tb00734.x
Cohen, P. (1962). The impact of handicapped child on the family. Social Work, 2, 137-142.
Cohen, S., & Cohen, J. (1962). Support systems for families of children with severe disabilities in the USA. The Jewish Special Educator, 1, 22-23.
Dale, E., Jahoda, A., & Knott, F. (2006). Mothers’ attributions following their child’s diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder: Exploring links with maternal levels of stress, depression, and expectations about their child’s future. Autism, 10, 463-479. doi:10.1177/1362361306066600
Dunn, M., Burbine, T., Bowers, C., & Tantleff, S. (2001). Moderators of stress in parents of children with autism. Community Mental Health Journal, 37, 39-52. doi:10.1023/A:1026592305436
Durlak, J. A., Taylor, R. D., Kawashima, K., Pachan, M., DuPre, E., et al. (2007). Effects of positive youth development programs on school, family, and community systems. American Journal of Community Psychology, 39, 269-286. doi:10.1007/s10464-007-9112-5
Duvdevani, A. (2000). Resilience and coping of parents and families of children with developmental disabilities. In P. Klein (Ed.), Infants, toddlers, parents and caregivers (pp. 251-271). Ramat Gan: Bar Ilan University Press.
Farber, B. (1962). Effects of a severely mentally retarded child on family. In E. P. Trapp, & P. Himmelstein (Eds.), Readings on the exceptional child (pp. 59-68). New York: Appleton-Century.
Fisman, S. N., Wolf, L. C., & Noh, S. (1989). Marital intimacy in parents of exceptional children. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 34, 519-525.
Friedrich, W. N. (1979). Predictors of coping behavior of mothers of handicapped children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 47, 1140-1141. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.47.6.1140
Green, R. (1998). The explosive child. New York: Harper Collins.
Heyman, T. (2001). Coping process of parents of children with disabilities. Issues in Special Education and Rehabilitation, 16, 37-47.
Heiman, T. (2002). Parents of children with disabilities: Resilience, coping and future expectations. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 14, 159-171. doi:10.1023/A:1015219514621
Hertz, P. (2003). How does parental denial regarding their child’s developmental disability affect reflections and professional decisions? Issues in Special Education and Rehabilitation, 18, 37-43.
Hollroyd, J., Brown, N., Wilker, L., & Simmons, J. O. (1975). Stress in families of institutionalized and non-institutionalized autistic children. Journal of Community Psychology, 3, 26-31. doi:10.1002/1520-6629(197501)3:1 3.0.CO;2-Y
Joronen, K., & Astedt-Kurki, P. (2005). Familial contribution to adolescent subjective well-being. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 11, 125-133. doi:10.1111/j.1440-172X.2005.00509.x
Kazak, A. E., & Marvin, R. S. (1984). Differences, difficulties and adaption: Stress and social network in families with a handicapped child. Family Relations, 33, 67-77. doi:10.2307/584591
Kennedy, J. (1970). Maternal reaction to the birth of a defective baby. Social Casework, 51, 410-416.
Kubler-Ross, E. (1978). To live until we say goodbye. New York: Simon and Schuster.
Kumpfer, K. L., & Alvarado, R. (2003). Family-strengthening approaches for the prevention of youth problem behaviors. American Psychology, 58, 457-465. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.58.6-7.457
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Coping and adaptation. In W. D. Gentry (Ed.), The handbook of behavioral medicine (pp. 225-282). New York: Guilford.
Lazer, Y. (1995). Resources for coping with external factors and crises in Jewish families with children with developmental limitations. Issues in Special Education and Rehabilitation, 10, 17-28.
Levy-Shiff, R., & Shulman, S. (1997). Families with a developmentally disabled child: Parent-child marital and family relations. In I. Dovdevani, M. Hovav, A. Rimmerman, & A. Ramot (Eds.), Parents and persons with developmental disabilities (pp. 15-34). Jerusalem: Hebrew University Press.
Leyser, Y. (1994). Stress and adaptation in Orthodox Jewish families with a disabled child. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 64, 376-385. doi:10.1037/h0079537
Margalit, M., & Heiman, T. (1986). Family climate and anxiety of families with learning disabled boys. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 25, 841-856. doi:10.1016/S0002-7138(09)60204-1
McCormack, A. (1989). The “tiding”: How to cope with the care of your disabled child. Tel Aviv: Ach Publishers.
Nye, F. (1976). Role structure and analysis of the family. Beverly Hills: Sage.
Pazserstone, H. (1987). An exceptional child in the family. Hapoalim Library Press.
Parsons, S., & Lewis, A. (2010). The home-education of children with special needs or disabilities in the UK.
Ryckman, D. B., & Henderson, R. A. (1965). The meaning of retarded children for his parents—A focus for counselors, Social Casework, 2, 15-20.
Sameroff, A. (2006). Identifying risk and protective factors for healthy child development. In A. Clarke-Stewart, & J. Dunn (Eds.), Families count: Effect on child and adolescent development (pp. 53-76). New York: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511616259.004
Salisbury, C. L. (1987). Stressors of parents with young handicapped and nonhandicapped children. Journal of the Division of Early Childhood, 11, 154-160.
Rimmerman, A., & Portwicz, D. (1987). Analysis of resources and stress among parents of developmentally disabled children. International Journal of Rehabilitation, 10, 439-445. doi:10.1097/00004356-198712000-00015
Tobing, L., & Glenwick, D. (2001). Relation of the childhood autism rating scale-parent version to diagnosis, stress, and age. New York: Fordham University.
Turnbull, A. P., & Turnbull, H. R. (2002). From the old to the new paradigm of disability and families: Research to enhance family quality of life outcomes. In P. L. James, C. D. Lavely, A. Cranston-Gingras, & E. L. Taylor (Eds.), Rethinking professional issues in special education (pp. 115-123). New York: Ablex Publishing.
Twoy, R., Connolly, P. M., & Novak, J. M. (2007). Coping strategies used by parents of children with autism. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 19, 251-260. doi:10.1111/j.1745-7599.2007.00222.x
Walsh, F. (1998). Strengthening family resilience. New York: Guilford Press.
Walsh, F. (2003). Family resilience: A framework for clinical practice. Family Process, 42, 1-18. doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.2003.00001.x
Wikler, L. (1981). Chronic stress of families of mentally retarded children. Family Relations, 30, 281-288. doi:10.2307/584142
Wikler, L., Wasow, M., & Hatfield, E. (1983). Seeking strengths in families of developmentally disabled children. Social Work, 28, 313-315.