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Service Access to Reduce Parenting Stress in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • Autism Spectrum (A Richdale and L Lawson, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Developmental Disorders Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 04 February 2019

This article has been updated

Abstract

Purpose of the Review

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are on the rise. Research has consistently shown that parents of children with ASD experience high levels of stress that impacts their health and emotional well-being.

Recent Findings

Parents of children with ASD report more stress and psychological distress than parents of children with other disabilities and typically developing children. Stressors are present throughout the child’s lifespan and are exacerbated at transition points (e.g., transition from high school to adulthood). However, support services may help alleviate parental stress.

Summary

Parents of children with ASD experience significant parenting stress that impacts their emotional and physical well-being, as well as their marital relationships. Research has identified possible interventions to help these parents cope. Future research should focus on evaluating the impact of policy change to allow existing systems to implement the recommendations in line with research findings.

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Change history

  • 04 February 2019

    The authors attributed on this article should be listed as ?Kim Desmarais and Erin Barker.? Therefore, Jean-Philippe Gouin should be removed from the author list.

  • 04 February 2019

    The authors attributed on this article should be listed as “Kim Desmarais and Erin Barker.” Therefore, Jean-Philippe Gouin should be removed from the author list.

  • 04 February 2019

    The authors attributed on this article should be listed as “Kim Desmarais and Erin Barker.” Therefore, Jean-Philippe Gouin should be removed from the author list.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Research in Human Development (CRDH), Concordia University, Montreal, Canada

    Kim Desmarais & Erin Barker

  2. Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West PY-146, Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6, Canada

    Kim Desmarais, Erin Barker & Jean-Philippe Gouin

  3. Center for Clinical Research in Health (CCRH), Concordia University, Montreal, Canada

    Jean-Philippe Gouin

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  1. Kim Desmarais
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  2. Erin Barker
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Correspondence to Kim Desmarais.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Autism Spectrum

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Desmarais, K., Barker, E. & Gouin, JP. Service Access to Reduce Parenting Stress in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Curr Dev Disord Rep 5, 116–123 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40474-018-0140-7

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