| Summary: | Student Number : 0316820H -
MA research report -
School of Human and Community Development -
Faculty of Humanities === The diagnosis of a serious disability brings many changes to the family of the newly
diagnosed member. Each type of disability and each child is unique. The characteristics
of autism make raising an autistic child challenging and places great stress on the family.
The diagnosis of autism therefore presents the family with a great deal of unique
challenges. Coping is necessary for the maintenance of the family and for the quality of
life to remain intact for the individual family members. Traditionally the emphasis has
been on treating the autistic child. However, recently more attention has been devoted to
providing supportive and counselling services to the families of autistic children.
Research has shifted its focus towards identifying those resources that enable the family
to cope successfully in the face of chronic stress. The present study used the process
model of stress and coping (Folkman & Lazarus, 1984) to examine the variables that may
alleviate parental stress. These variables include both personal and socio-ecological
coping resources, for example, personality variables, parenting skills, previous coping
skills, social support and support from formal agencies. The sample selected consisted of
31 parents of autistic children. The parents were recruited through schools that cater
specifically to autistic children and the parents were all volunteer participants. The results
indicated that intervention and parent education levels are associated with the level of
stress experienced by parents of autistic children. These results highlight the need for
family-based intervention programmes that are specifically tailored to suit the needs of
the family being helped. Without adequate services, it is unlikely that any amount of
psychosocial support will be able to prevent family stress.
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