Predictors of family adaptation: Stressors, resources, coping strategies and perceptions of parents of children with autism

• Main Author: Magdoza, Ma. Margarita A., II
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2007
• Subjects: Parents of autistic children—Psychology; Autistic children—Family relationships; Autism; Adaptability (Psychology); Child Psychology; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6054; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/13188/viewcontent/CDTG004271_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The focus of this research was to gain a better understanding of autism, and its effects on family life. Studies have been done on the behavioral and cognitive effects of autism on the affected child, and how those effects manifest themselves into family life. Only limited studies were found, however, that give a quantitative account of what it is like to live with autism using first hand accounts as data, and what and how families are learning in the process. Adapting the Classic ABCX model, this study used the stress-adaptation framework to explore predictors of adaptation of Filipino parents of children with autism, in relation to certain family stressors, resources, coping strategies and perceptions. The research was comprised of a variety of objective measures from which data was collected. Selection criteria required that participants be parents living with the clinically diagnosed autistic child, and willing to participate in a study that would allow the researcher interviews of 105 parents of autistic children. The data were analyzed using Path Analysis Structural Equations Modeling (SEM) to determine the relationship of latent variables measured by multiple observed indicators. The relationship of stressors on adaptation given the three mediating variables such as resources, coping strategies and positive perceptions was looked into. Results show that stressors do not have a direct effect on adaptation. Also, stressors did not show any significant influence on resources, coping strategies and positive perceptions. However, significant effects were established from resources, coping strategies and positive perceptions on adaptation suggesting that although the resources, coping strategies and positive perceptions of these parents are not mediating factors that buffer the impact of stressors on adaptation, but as predictors that independently impact adaptation. This study also examined parent’s qualitative responses to questions concerning their personal experiences within the family and community in relation to raising a child with autism. The parents who are the primary caregiver of these children were interviewed. The emerging themes and implications of these findings, methodological issues, and suggestions for future research are also discussed.