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Autism in Adolescents and Adults pp 251–278Cite as

Stress and Coping in Families of Autistic Adolescents

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Part of the book series: Current Issues in Autism ((CIAM))

Abstract

Our understanding of the problems and needs of autistic adolescents and adults is still in its infancy, compared with what we know about autism in children. During the past decade some important strides have been made in the study and treatment of autistic children and their families (Paluszny, 1979; Rutter & Schopler, 1978). These have included the recognition that autism is not primarily an emotional illness but a developmental disability (Schopler, Rutter, & Chess, 1979). Autism is not caused by parental pathology; instead parents can be productively involved in their own child’s treatment (Schopler & Reichler, 1971). Moreover the optimum treatment for such children is not psychotherapy, but special education made available in our public schools and implemented with the collaboration of parents (Schopler & Bristol, 1980). However, in most of our public schools special education ends when the student reaches 18 years of age. What happens to the adolescent with autism? What happens to the struggles of his parents?

The preparation of this chapter was supported in part by the Special Education Program of the Department of Education, Contract Number 300-77-0309. However, the opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and no official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education should be inferred.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Carolina Institute for Research on Early Education of the Handicapped, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, USA

    Marie M. Bristol

  2. Division TEACCH, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Medical School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, USA

    Eric Schopler

Authors
  1. Marie M. Bristol
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  2. Eric Schopler
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division TEACCH, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 27514, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Eric Schopler

  2. Division TEACCH, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 27514, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Gary B. Mesibov

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© 1983 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Bristol, M.M., Schopler, E. (1983). Stress and Coping in Families of Autistic Adolescents. In: Schopler, E., Mesibov, G.B. (eds) Autism in Adolescents and Adults. Current Issues in Autism. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9345-1_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9345-1_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9347-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9345-1

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