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16-04-2024 | Original Article

Correlates of Impairment and Growth in Families of Young Autistic Children

Auteurs: Kristen T. MacKenzie, Mario J. Crown, Jessie B. Northrup, Elizabeth Rutenberg, Amy G. Hartman, Carla A. Mazefsky

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

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Abstract

The purpose of this project was to investigate potential correlates of family life impairment in families of young autistic children. This project incorporated measures of specific child and parent challenges in addition to a commonly used unidimensional measure of autism characteristics. In this way, we could assess whether such challenges explain variance in family life impairment, and whether their inclusion diminish associations between autism characteristics and family life impairment. Cross-sectional data were collected from 564 parents of autistic children aged 2 to 5 years who participated in a larger online study. Participants completed measures on child characteristics (autism characteristics, emotion dysregulation, speaking ability, flexibility, and sleep problems), parent depression, and family life impairment, using the Family Life Impairment Scale (FLIS). Multiple linear regression models were generated to examine whether any of the independent variables were associated with the four domains of the FLIS. Models controlled for child age and sex, parent education, and single-parent homes. All independent variables were associated with impairment in one or more FLIS domains. None of the primary independent variables were significantly associated with positive growth. More overt characteristics and behaviors (e.g., autism characteristics, reactivity, speaking ability, and flexibility) were associated with impairment in domains that reflected a family’s ability to navigate the community. However, sleep challenges and parent and child emotional difficulties were most strongly associated with parent impairment. Findings suggests that families may have different needs across contexts and provide new avenues through which they might be better supported.
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Metagegevens
Titel
Correlates of Impairment and Growth in Families of Young Autistic Children
Auteurs
Kristen T. MacKenzie
Mario J. Crown
Jessie B. Northrup
Elizabeth Rutenberg
Amy G. Hartman
Carla A. Mazefsky
Publicatiedatum
16-04-2024
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06339-w