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Parents of Children with High Functioning Autism: How Well Do They Cope and Adjust?

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Abstract

This study investigated the coping differences in relation to the psychosocial adjustment (depression, anxiety, and marital adjustment) between mothers and fathers of children with and without High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (HFASDs). Forty-eight parents of children with HFASDs and 26 parents of children without any disability completed a packet of psychological survey. Statistically significant differences were found between the HFASDs and control groups in depression, anxiety, one subscale of the marital adjustment measure and four subscales of the coping measures. When compared across gender within the HFASDs group, depression, anxiety, one subscale of the marital adjustment, and four subscales of coping were found to be statistically significant. Parents of children with HFASDs exhibited less adaptive coping skills as compared to parents of children without any disability. Mothers of children with HFASDs exhibited more adaptive coping skills as compared to their father counterparts. Interaction effect of disability and gender, however, was not significant.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge the Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Consortium for their support and collaboration, particularly Drs. Christopher Lopata, Martin Volker, Marcus Thomeer, Roberta Nida, Jennifer Toomey, Sabrina Chow, and research team members Ms. Audrey Smerbeck, Mr. Jonathan Rodgers and Ms. Audrey Schivo). Special thank you is extended to the parents who participated in this study.

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  1. Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology, University at Buffalo – State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Gloria K. Lee

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Lee, G.K. Parents of Children with High Functioning Autism: How Well Do They Cope and Adjust?. J Dev Phys Disabil 21, 93–114 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-008-9128-2

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