Research Question: Does the severity of stress impact coping styles used by parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Hypothesis: If caregivers receive social support for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder they are more likely to have less stress
Introduction:
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. (Center for Disease Control, 2014).
Autism Spectrum Disorders represent a spectrum of complex, neurological and developmental disorders characterized by deficits in reciprocal social interaction and communication ( Karst & Hecke, 2012). There are many challenges and limitations of having a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as the overall impact it has on the family. According to the Center for Disease Control ( Moodie-Dyer, Joyce, Hoffman, & Anderson –Butcher, 2014), 1 of every 68 children in the United States is being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Due to the rise in this diagnosis in young children it is imperative to understand the impact Autism Spectrum Disorder has not only on caregivers, but also on how they cope with the diagnosis.
According to Lyons, Leon, Phelps & Dunleavy (2010) parenting a child with Autism spectrum disorder is highly stressful and challenging for many parents. According to ( Nealy, O’Hare, Powers, & Swick, 2012) an estimated 730,000 Americans younger than age 21 …show more content…
A Qualitative Study of Coping in Mothers of Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
Aim: The purpose of the study was to explore mother’s perceptions of effective coping strategies for their parenting stress. Parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder is challenging and cause an increase in parental stress (Kuhaneck, H., Burroughs, T., Wright, J., Lemanczyk, T., & Darragh,