The Buffering Effect of Resilience upon Stress, Anxiety and Depression in Parents of a Child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

Bitsika, Vicki; Sharpley, Christopher F.; Bell, Ryan

doi:10.1007/s10882-013-9333-5

Cited by 143 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The suggestion is that formal supports can have a protective effect on negative health outcomes and, in turn, help to promote resilience (Ruiz-Robledillo et al 2014b). Caregiver resilience can also be enhanced if social supports are not only available but meaningfully perceived by the individual: this includes an ability to understand and empathise with caregivers' experiences (Bitsika et al 2013). Acceptance and mindfulness therapies are contemporary treatments which have also demonstrated efficacy in this group, helping to defuse inflexible cognitions and replacing maladaptive ways of responding to a child's difficult behaviors with mindful techniques (Beer et al 2013;Blackledge and Hayes 2006;Ruiz-Robledillo et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Psychological Adjustment in Families Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder

2015

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There is extensive evidence that parents and carers of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are vulnerable to experiencing mental health issues including having high risk of depression, anxiety and familial stress. Research also suggests that this stress can coexist with positive experiences of caregiving. However, the capacity to remain resilient, or thrive during difficult emotional experiences, is a relatively new concept in the ASD literature. The present study adds to current understanding of the mental health needs of female caregivers by evaluating data from a nationwide survey (N=438). The findings suggest that psychological outcome is primarily determined by individual coping responses, with avoidant strategies (disengagement, self-blame, denial, emotional venting) contributing to depressed mood in addition to anxiety and stress symptomatology. In comparison, action-oriented strategies (planning, acceptance, positive reframing) characterised resilience. Perceived support needs and, to a lesser extent, child behaviour, also had important contextual influences. Future longitudinal research will help to refine the variables implicated in the adjustment process, including changes in caregivers' repertoire of cognitive and behavioural coping responses over time.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Future resilience research might consider familial patterns of ASD, with sibling recurrence of ASD potentially impacting on wellbeing (Bitsika et al 2013;Meadan et al 2010). Comorbidities of ASD (e.g.…”

Section: Study Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological Adjustment in Families Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder

2015

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“…Although initially investigated as a psychological variable, personal resilience has also been shown to have a biological basis that relies upon plasticity of the reward and fear circuits in the brain (Bergström et al, 2007), suggesting that preventative as well as treatment approaches may be possible (Haglund, Nestadt, Cooper, Southwick, & Charney, 2007). Although Psychological resilience has been shown to mediate the anxiety and depression states of parent caregivers of a child with an ASD (Bitsika, Sharpley, & Bell, 2013;Hansen et al, 2006), a search of PubMed and Google Scholar in May 2014 failed to identify any published studies on the association between Psychological resilience and anxiety or depression among NASD siblings of children with an ASD. Therefore, this study was also designed to examine whether Psychological resilience moderated the severity of anxiety and depression in the current sample of NASD siblings of a child with an ASD.…”

Section: Issues Arising From Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of gender, age, Psychological resilience and family interaction factors upon anxiety and depression in non-autism spectrum disorder siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorder

Bitsika

Sharpley

Mailli

2014

British Journal of Guidance & Counselling

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The influence of gender, age, Psychological resilience and family interaction factors upon generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) was investigated in 75 non-autism spectrum disorder (NASD) siblings who had a brother or sister with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). GAD and MDD were much more prevalent than in comparable age group samples, and adolescent females had the highest MDD rates. Several Psychological resilience skills were significantly associated with lower GAD and MDD, particularly being able to recognise mistakes in their thinking (for children) and being able to remain in control of their anger (for adolescents). Suggestions are made for ways of encouraging NASD siblings to develop skills that may assist them in avoiding these disorders.

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“…Among the different models of resilience theory (i.e., compensatory, risk-protective, and challenge), the riskprotective model suggests that resilience may mitigate the negative impacts of risk factors on health status (Garmezy et al, 1984). Research has also found that resilience plays a protective role in mitigating the impact of stress and trauma on depressive symptoms and the consequences associated with depressive symptoms (Bitsika et al, 2013;Kukihara et al, 2014). Therefore, resilience can be assumed to be a possible moderator of the negative effects of depressive symptoms on physical and psychological health status in patients with heart failure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%