A Comparative Analysis of Well-Being and Coping among Mothers of Toddlers and Mothers of Adolescents with ASD

Abstract

The present study examined the impact of autism symptoms and coping strategies on the well-being of mothers of children with ASD. The sample consisted of 153 mothers of toddlers and 201 mothers of adolescents drawn from two ongoing, longitudinal studies of families of individuals with ASD. For mothers of toddlers, lower levels of emotion-focused coping and higher levels of problemfocused coping were generally associated with better maternal well-being, regardless of the level of child symptomatology. For mothers of adolescents, coping often acted as a buffer when autism symptoms were high. Although there was evidence of maternal distress in both groups, the presence of significant buffering effects reflects adaptation in the face of stress, particularly for mothers of adolescents. Keywordscoping; autism symptoms; maternal well-being; toddlers; adolescents Raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is considered to be a highly stressful event for families (Duarte, Bordin, Yazigi, & Mooney, 2005). In comparison to parents of children with other disabilities (Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, undifferentiated developmental disability, and cerebral palsy), mothers of individuals with ASD report more negative impact and poorer well-being during their children's preschool years (Eisenhower, Baker, & Blacher, 2005) and adulthood Blacher & McIntyre, 2006). Despite the challenges associated with caring for a child with a developmental disability, there is evidence that coping strategies may play a protective role for parents (Essex, Seltzer, & Krauss, 1999;Seltzer, Greenberg, & Krauss, 1995). The present study evaluated the impact of children's autism symptoms and maternal coping strategies on well-being in mothers of toddlers and mothers of adolescents with ASD. Child Characteristics and Maternal Well-BeingThe challenging behaviors of children with ASD have been repeatedly associated with poor maternal psychological well-being Allik, Larsson, & Smedje, 2006;Herring et al., 2006) and high levels of stress (Bromley, Hare, Davison, & Emerson, 2004;Lecavalier, Leone, & Wiltz, 2006). There is some Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to: Leann E. Smith, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705. Phone: (608) 890-1390; Fax: (608) NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript debate, however, if the core symptoms of ASD, or alternatively, behavior problems more generally, drive this connection between autism and maternal well-being. For instance, a recent study by Hastings, demonstrated that behavior problems of preschool children with autism, but not adaptive behavior or severity of autism symptoms, were associated with maternal stress. Similarly, in a study comparing toddlers and preschoolers with pervasive developmental disorder to those with developmental delays, emotional and behavioral problems predicted maternal stress, mental health problems, and family dysfunction above the effects of diagnosis, le...

Afrontamiento, estrés parental y calidad de vida de los cuidadores principales de personas TEA || Coping, parental stress and quality of life of primary caregivers of people with ASD

“…Así, se ha constatado que la utilización de estrategias de afrontamiento activas como la reevaluación positiva, la cual consiste en atribuirle un nuevo significado a las situación del problema, por lo que se podría considerarse como "una estrategia de optimismo que contribuye a tolerar la problemática y a generar pensamientos que favorecen a enfrentar la situación" (Londoño et al, 2006, p.345), es utilizada con mayor frecuencia por aquellos cuidadores con niveles de estrés parental en el rango normal, lo cual permite pensar que facilita un manejo adecuado de las emociones y un mayor bienestar psicológico. Sin embargo, la utilización de estrategias centradas en las emociones, como la evitación emocional (movilizar recursos para ocultar o inhibir las propias emociones) o la reacción agresiva (la expresión impulsiva de la ira dirigida hacia sí mismo, hacia los demás o hacia los objetos), son más utilizadas por los cuidadores con puntuaciones de estrés parental clínicamente significativas, lo cual coincide con los resultados de Abbeduto et al (2004), Pottie y Ingram (2008) o Smith et al (2008).…”

“…Los padres de niños con TEA soportan niveles elevados de estrés como consecuencia de los trastornos del sueño que sufren sus hijos, agitación y gritos, estereotipias y auto-lesiones, dificultades en la alimentación y control de esfínteres, falta de reciprocidad social o emocional, etc. La vida familiar en la mayoría de los casos se organiza en torno al niño/a con TEA y a su futuro (Allik, Larsson y Smedje, 2006;É Cappe, Bobet y Adrien, 2009;Smith, Seltzer, Tager-Flusberg, Greenberg y Carter, 2008). Dado que la mayoría de familias de niños/as con TEA no tienen más remedio que afrontar el trastorno, conocer los estilos y estrategias de afrontamiento empleados por estos padres es relevante en tanto que puede permitir el desarrollo de intervenciones que potencien sus recursos psicológicos.…”

“…La evitación activa, un constructo similar a la autofocalización negativa (esto es, estrategias centradas en las emociones, tales como rechazo, abandono y auto-culpabilización), predijo niveles más elevados de estrés, ansiedad y depresión (Abbeduto et al, 2004;Pottie y Ingram, 2008;Smith et al, 2008). Sin embargo, estrategias de afrontamiento centradas en la solución de problemas y en la búsqueda de apoyo social no se relacionaban con estrés ni con malestar emocional de los padres (Dabrowska y Pisula, 2010;Pottie y Ingram, 2008;Smith et al, 2008).…”

Famílias com crianças autistas na literatura internacional

“…Os periódicos incluídos no estudo são (1,(10)(11)13,(18)(19)22,(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)35) ; grupos de apoio e qualidade de vida (2,12,21,23,27,33,36) , caracterização das famílias e seus membros (5-6,9,20,24,36,38) ; processos de intervenção e seus resultados (7,(14)(15)17,34) ; como os pais vêem seus filhos autistas (3-4,8,30-32,37) . Embora alguns artigos abordem diversos desses temas, ainda assim causa impacto o número reduzido de trabalhos envolvendo processos de intervenção, baseados nas famílias ou que incluam sua participação sistemática.…”

The life experiences of Turkish mothers who have children with an autism spectrum disorder

“…However, research findings are not clear in this matter. There are different findings which suggest that mothers with an older child use more effective coping strategies and thus have a better maternal health in the course of time in comparison to mothers with a younger child (Fitzgerald, Birkbeck, & Matthews, 2002); both the mothers of toddlers and the mothers of adolescents and adults have significant distress (Smith, Seltzer, Tager-Flusberg, Greenberg, & Carter, 2008); and the parents of toddlers have a high level stress (Davis & Carter, 2008).…”