Parenting children with autistic spectrum disorders : are the relationships between expressed emotion or stress and child behavioural problems moderated by social support?

• Main Author: Edwards, Laura Jane Rhianwen
• Published: University of East Anglia 2008
• Subjects: 616.8588200835
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.501109

Previous research has suggested that mothers of children with autistic spectrum disorders experienced increased levels of stress and high levels of expressed emotion (EE). A robust relationship has been demonstrated between child behavioural problems and maternal stress and EE. Social support has been identified as a protective against maternal stressors. This study aimed to examine whether social support functioned as a moderator of the relationships between child behavioural problems with maternal stress and critical comments. A further aim was to assess whether informal support provided a stronger moderating effect than formal support. A cross sectional survey based design was used. 59 mothers of children with ASDs completed a brief interview to assess EE and 45 of these mothers also completed measures to assess mater and child behavioural difficulties. Regression and correlation analyses showed that social support did not moderate the mother-child relationships. High levels of maternal stress were revealed and relatively low levels of social support, with borderline levels of child behavioural problems. Significant relationships were evidenced between child behaviour problems with maternal stress and criticism. Child behavioural problems, total support and informal support significantly predicted maternal stress.