Abstract
Raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be an overwhelming experience for parents and families. The pervasive
and severe deficits often present in children with ASD are associated with a plethora of difficulties in caregivers, including
decreased parenting efficacy, increased parenting stress, and an increase in mental and physical health problems compared
with parents of both typically developing children and children with other developmental disorders. In addition to significant
financial strain and time pressures, high rates of divorce and lower overall family well-being highlight the burden that having
a child with an ASD can place on families. These parent and family effects reciprocally and negatively impact the diagnosed
child and can even serve to diminish the positive effects of intervention. However, most interventions for ASD are evaluated
only in terms of child outcomes, ignoring parent and family factors that may have an influence on both the immediate and long-term
effects of therapy. It cannot be assumed that even significant improvements in the diagnosed child will ameliorate the parent
and family distress already present, especially as the time and expense of intervention can add further family disruption.
Thus, a new model of intervention evaluation is proposed, which incorporates these factors and better captures the transactional
nature of these relationships.
and severe deficits often present in children with ASD are associated with a plethora of difficulties in caregivers, including
decreased parenting efficacy, increased parenting stress, and an increase in mental and physical health problems compared
with parents of both typically developing children and children with other developmental disorders. In addition to significant
financial strain and time pressures, high rates of divorce and lower overall family well-being highlight the burden that having
a child with an ASD can place on families. These parent and family effects reciprocally and negatively impact the diagnosed
child and can even serve to diminish the positive effects of intervention. However, most interventions for ASD are evaluated
only in terms of child outcomes, ignoring parent and family factors that may have an influence on both the immediate and long-term
effects of therapy. It cannot be assumed that even significant improvements in the diagnosed child will ameliorate the parent
and family distress already present, especially as the time and expense of intervention can add further family disruption.
Thus, a new model of intervention evaluation is proposed, which incorporates these factors and better captures the transactional
nature of these relationships.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 247-277
- DOI 10.1007/s10567-012-0119-6
- Authors
- Jeffrey S. Karst, Marquette University, 604 N 16th St, Cramer Hall #307, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
- Amy Vaughan Van Hecke, Marquette University, Cramer Hall 328A, PO Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
- Journal Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review
- Online ISSN 1573-2827
- Print ISSN 1096-4037
- Journal Volume Volume 15
- Journal Issue Volume 15, Number 3