Coping Strategies and the Marital Relationship Among Parents Raising Children with ASD

Parents raising children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been found to experience higher levels of stress and to face more challenges in the marital relationship than other parents. This study aimed to investigate how such couples cope with the stress and challenges of family life. Our qualitative study was based on semi-structured interviews with 42 parents (29 mothers and 13 fathers) of children and adolescents with ASD. Following Bodenmann’s systemic transactional model (STM), we used thematic analysis to interpret the interview data and explore how couples coped. We found that study participants employed three types of coping strategies to reduce stress and strengthen the marital relationship. First, individual coping met the need for parents to find respite or “me time.” Second, dyadic coping provided a way for members of a couple to support each other and find joint solutions to family challenges. Finally, social support coping played a key role in connecting parents with much needed resources, while allowing them to enjoy some respite and quality time as a couple. Our findings highlight the importance of simultaneously considering individual, dyadic, and social factors for providing a more comprehensive picture of the marital adjustment process.