Marital Satisfaction and Perceived Family Support in Families of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Dyadic Analysis

Abstract

Background: Raising children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) causes tremendous stress for parents that may lead to marital conflict and relationship dissatisfaction. Many factors are associated with parent relationships including severity of autistic behaviors and social support. This study aimed to investigate whether severity of autistic behaviors, perceived family support, and complementarity of interpersonal styles between husbands and wives predicted couple satisfaction among the parents of children with ASD. Method: Seven hundred ninety-seven parent dyads of children aged 7–14 years old with ASD participated in the study. Measurements used included couple satisfaction index, perceived family support using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, inter-personal style using the inventory of interpersonal problems, the ABC autism checklists as well as sociodemographic and related factors. The Actor Partner Interdependence Model estimated by multilevel modeling was used for analysis. Results: Perceived family support was relevant in married couples regarding their marital relationship, but the effects on husbands and wives differed. Husbands’ relationship satisfaction was predicted by how they perceived being supported by family. The severity of autistic behaviors predicted relationship satisfaction but only actor effect. Negative prediction of interpersonal complementarity on couple satisfaction was observed. In addition, time spent on raising children had a negative impact on the quality of the relationship. Partner effect of time spent was observed among women. Conclusion: Dyadic analysis using an actor–partner independence model confirmed perception of family support predicts relationship satisfaction among parents of children with ASD in addition to the severity of autistic behaviors and time spent caring for children. Complementarity of individual interpersonal style had no effect on couple satisfaction. This research suggests implications for interventions regarding building skills that elicit support from family members.

Resilience and Coping with Stress and Marital Satisfaction of the Parents of Children with ASD during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The longer the time spent by the wives had no effect on their relationship with their husbands; in fact, the time wives spent on their children also made their husbands dissatisfied. This can be explained by the fact that the husbands were unhappy because the wives spent so much time with their children, resulting in husbands feeling neglected [43]. Also, the Gagat-Matuła (2021) study conducted in the COVID-19 pandemic among married couples with a child with ASD, showed that spouses more often prefer non-constructive coping with stress using the emotion-focused style (SSE) or the avoidance-focused style (SSU) if the spouses assesses both themselves and their spouse as depressed.…”

“…Also, the Gagat-Matuła (2021) study conducted in the COVID-19 pandemic among married couples with a child with ASD, showed that spouses more often prefer non-constructive coping with stress using the emotion-focused style (SSE) or the avoidance-focused style (SSU) if the spouses assesses both themselves and their spouse as depressed. The greater the difference between their own assessment and the assessment of their spouse in supportive communication, the more often the respondents prefer the style focused on emotions (SSE) and the style focused on avoidance (SSU) [43].…”

Análise Dos Óbitos Fetais Segundo as Variáveis Relacionadas Ao Feto, Ao Parto E À Mãe No Maranhão

“…Ademais, existem indicações de que os pais com dificuldades financeiras apresentaram pontuações mais altas de depressão e ansiedade em comparação com aqueles sem dificuldades financeiras. Por isso a importância de intervenções que se concentrem tanto nos aspectos negativos (problemas emocionais e comportamentais das crianças, necessidades de apoio não satisfeitas dos pais) como positivos (satisfação no relacionamento conjugal dos pais) do cuidado de crianças com TEA (Khusaifan e Keshky, 2022;He et al, 2022).…”

Expressed Emotion in Families of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Mixed-Method Approach

“…Parents of children with NDDs were found to be at increased risk of conflicting and unsatisfied relationships. 46 – 48 Satisfactory family and marital environment are linked to low expressed emotion. In contrast, extreme family conflicts were linked to high expressed emotion.…”