Yes, I know to mention the words 'parenting stress' and 'autism' in the same sentence requires some caution. I know some people don't like to talk about this and related topics (see here). But obscuring such important research from view for fear of upsetting people or impacting on any 'positive PR' does little to approach an issue that is seemingly so widespread (see here).
So what are the key points to take away from both papers on this topic?
1. "Caregivers of an ASD [autism spectrum disorder] child perceived significant stress while taking care of their children." Not exactly a novel results I grant you, but important to reiterate.
2. Autism plus learning disability seems to increase the 'perceived' stress.
3. Parental stress may well present as physiological stress. This is particularly important in relation to the measurement of something called cortisol.
OK, there's nothing earth-shattering about such findings. They again imply that as and when a child receives a diagnosis of autism or ASD, parents or primary caregivers might also benefit from some information on what they might expect and what they can do when it comes to coping with stress. Caring for the carers (see here) and offering things like respite care to those who need it (see here) sound like good initiatives. Bear also in mind, that parenting a child with autism is often done alongside parenting other children too, and what effect that can sometimes have on them (see here)...
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[1] Nik Adib NA. et al. Perceived Stress among Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A State-Wide Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Apr 25;16(8). pii: E1468.
[2] Pattini E. et al. Psychological characteristics and physiological reactivity to acute stress in mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Stress Health. 2019 Apr 26.
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Hi Paul and thank you so much for your blog and the important and current research information that it always contains. I appreciate your punctuation around point #2: "perceived" stress. Without reading the articles that you cite here, I would also like to mention that some research has consistently indicated that, along with the challenges, parents and families face when parenting a child with autism, parents have also reported positive benefits of caring for a child with autism. The meaning-systems or perceptions of parents reflect values and beliefs that we human beings adopt about the events in our lives. these become the most important factor in our response to events.
ReplyDeleteKelly, G. (1963). A theory of personality: The psychology of personal constructs. New York City, NY: Norton & Company.
Scorgie, K., & Sobsey, D. (2000). Transformational outcomes associated with parenting children who have disabilities. Mental Retardation, 38(3), 195-206.
Schlebusch, L., & Dada, S. (2018). Positive and negative cognitive appraisal of the impact of children with autism spectrum disorder on the family. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 51, 86-93.
"... nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so" Hamlet Act 2, scene 2, 239–251.
thanx again. Paula
Hi Paul and thank you so much for your blog and the important information that it consistently contains. I appreciate your punctuation in your point #2: 'perceived'. Without denying the fact that caring for a child with autism is a challenging problem for families and parents, recent research also suggests that parents have found positive and even transformational benefits as a result of this parenting task. The meaning-systems or perceptions that we adopt in response to the events in our lives are reflective of the values, beliefs, and commitments that we hold. working with cognitive coping strategies and interventions can provide some positive results for people dealing with disruptive events.
ReplyDeletethanx again, p
Schlebusch, L., & Dada, S. (2018). Positive and negative cognitive appraisal of the impact of children with autism spectrum disorder on the family. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 51, 86-93.
Scorgie, K., & Sobsey, D. (2000). Transformational outcomes associated with parenting children who have disabilities. Mental Retardation, 38(3), 195-206.
Kelly, G. (1963). A theory of personality: The psychology of personal constructs. New York City, NY: Norton & Company.
Hamlet Act 2, scene 2, 239–251: "... there is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so."