Parental psychopathology and expectations for the futures of children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

These results emphasize the necessity of providing services not only to individuals diagnosed with ASD, but to caregivers as well.

Parent Expectations and Preparatory Activities as Adolescents with ASD Transition to Adulthood

“…This aligns with existing literature suggesting that youth characteristics predict parent expectations in ASD samples (Kirby 2016; Thomas et al 2017). In addition to intellectual functioning, the equal distribution of parents of males and females in this sample provided a unique opportunity to examine gender differences in parent expectations for the future.…”

“…Consistent with a priori hypotheses, more severe ASD symptoms and parent-reported IQ below 70 were significant predictors of lower parent expectations for the future in the areas of financial independence, school attainment, citizenship, and independent living, while average or above IQ predicted higher expectations. This aligns with existing literature suggesting that youth characteristics predict parent expectations in ASD samples (Kirby 2016; Thomas et al 2017). In addition to intellectual functioning, the equal distribution of parents of males and females in this sample provided a unique opportunity to examine gender differences in parent expectations for the future.…”

The Formation of Postsecondary Expectations Among Parents of Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…The relevance of this theme to the expectancy–value theory provides further justification for the relevance of that theory—which focuses on self-expectations—for understanding influences on parent’s expectations as well. This finding is also consistent, but substantially expands upon prior quantitative analyses suggesting youth functional status and disability severity are predictors of expectations for parents of youth with ASD (Kirby, 2016; Thomas et al, 2017). Within this theme, participants each described considering what their child enjoyed and was good at—along with what they struggle with and do not like to do—as they formed expectations for the future, while also maintaining ambitions to change some of the more negative factors (e.g., build skills where they are lacking).…”

“…, and disability severity (Thomas et al, 2017). Parental ideas related to their child's autism have also been suggested, in broader qualitative research, to be influenced by cultural attitudes, family experiences, and youth skills (e.g., Anderson, Sosnowy, Kuo, & Shattuck, 2018;Fox, Aabe, Turner, Redwood, & Rai, 2017).…”

“…Some quantitative analyses have identified variables that significantly predict expectations of parents of youth with disabilities including ASD, such as socioeconomic status (Doren et al, 2012; Kirby, 2016), parent psychopathology (Thomas, King, Mendelson, & Nelson-Gray, 2017), youth functional status (Kirby, 2016), disability classification (Blacher, Kraemer, & Howell, 2010), and disability severity (Thomas et al, 2017). Parental ideas related to their child’s autism have also been suggested, in broader qualitative research, to be influenced by cultural attitudes, family experiences, and youth skills (e.g., Anderson, Sosnowy, Kuo, & Shattuck, 2018; Fox, Aabe, Turner, Redwood, & Rai, 2017).…”