Family functioning and behaviour problems in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The mediating role of parent mental health

Abstract

Key words autism spectrum disorder, child problem behaviours, family functioning, parent mental health, parent stress. Correspondence Rachel Jellett, AbstractBackground: Parents of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are often relied on to help implement therapy with their child, which occurs within a family context. Therefore, it is important to understand and support families where there is a child with an ASD. Although individual parent factors have received substantial research attention, fewer studies have investigated family functioning. This study explored the relationship between child behaviour problems and family functioning in families where there was a preschooler with an ASD. Parent mental health difficulties, including stress, fatigue, and depressive symptoms, were investigated as mediators in this relationship.Method: Participants included 97 parents with a preschooler diagnosed with an ASD. Parents completed an online questionnaire reporting on child behaviour problems, their own symptoms of stress, depression and fatigue, and family functioning.Results: Path analysis showed that the relationship between child behaviour problems and family functioning was mediated by depressive symptoms, but not stress and fatigue.Conclusions: These results highlighted one way that ASDs can impact on the family system, suggesting that when parents are overburdened by behaviour problems, there are implications for the family. The importance of providing clinical interventions and support to strengthen parent mental health and family functioning is discussed.

Sibling Relationships and Family Functioning in Siblings of Early Adolescents, Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…In particular balanced levels of cohesion which tended towards a deep engagement among family members was positively associated with behaviors finalized to companionship and cooperation. Although unbalanced levels of cohesion and flexibility characterize more frequently families with a child with ASD than families having only TD children (Baker et al 2011;Gau et al 2012;Jellett et al 2015;Higgins et al 2005; Manor-Binyamini 2011), family satisfaction levels are more likely to have a more determinant role in family functioning when a member has a disability. In particular, a recent study (Pruitt et al 2016) demonstrated that when balanced levels of family satisfaction are reported by family members, increased daily positive parenting interactions between mother and their children with ASD are observed.…”

“…Evidence, confirmed by cross-culture studies (Gau et al 2012;Manor-Binyamini 2011), has shown that families having a child with ASD report less affective family functioning, in terms of both flexibility and cohesion (Baker et al 2011;Higgins et al 2005). Furthermore, greater severity of behavior problems of children with ASD and parent mental psychopathology seem to negatively impact on family functioning (Jellett et al 2015;Pruitt et al 2016).…”

Perceived burden among spouse, adult child, and parent caregivers

“…Although the experience of parenting any child can be stressful, parents caring for a disabled child experience a greater level of stress (Hayes & Watson, 2013) or have poorer perceived health than other parents (Brehaut et al, 2011). Moreover, behavioural challenges presented by the care recipient, (Jellett, Wood, Giallo, & Seymour, 2015;Plant & Sanders, 2007) ineffective coping strategies, poor family functioning, and poor social support have been associated with the parental caregiver burden in previous studies (Raina et al, 2004).…”

Investigation of the Correlation of Family Resilience of Parents with a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Parenting Stress and Social Support

“…The parent-child dysfunctional interaction, which is caused by the children's problematic behavior, although it brings about negative effects in the family system, such as parents' increased stress and fatigue, does not necessarily reduce the functionality of the family (Jellet et al, 2014). The significance of the classification of Zhou and Yi (2014) may be supported and specifically the distinction of group Δ of parents, who are usually the ones that give up trying to educate and take care of their children, when they lose their hopes for the improvement of the situation and their motives for participation in any management of the autistic child are reduced.…”