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Systems Analysis of Stress and Positive Perceptions in Mothers and Fathers of Pre-School Children with Autism

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Systemic analyses of psychological functioning in families of children with autism have typically shown that parents report different experiences (e.g., stress) and that siblings may also be affected. The purpose of the present research was more explicitly to address relationships between child, partner, and parent variables. Parents of 48 children with autism (41 mother–father pairs) reported on child characteristics, and their own stress and mental health. Mothers were found to report both more depression and more positive perceptions than fathers. Regression analyses revealed that paternal stress and positive perceptions were predicted by maternal depression; maternal stress was predicted by their children’s behavior problems (not adaptive behavior or autism symptoms) and by their partner’s depression. The future testing of the mechanisms underlying these results is discussed. In addition, the need is emphasized for more systemic analyses to understand the psychological functioning of children with autism and their siblings and parents.

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Acknowledgement

Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by the Health Foundation (Grant number 2262/704). Any opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Health Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of Wales Bangor, LL57 2DG, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK

    Richard P. Hastings

  2. Centre for Behavioural Research Analysis and Intervention in Developmental Disabilities, School of Psychology, University of Southampton,  , UK

    Hanna Kovshoff, Nicholas J. Ward, Francesca degli Espinosa, Tony Brown & Bob Remington

  3. School of Psychology, University of Wales Bangor, LL57 2DG, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK

    Richard P. Hastings

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  1. Richard P. Hastings
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  2. Hanna Kovshoff
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Correspondence to Richard P. Hastings.

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Hastings, R.P., Kovshoff, H., Ward, N.J. et al. Systems Analysis of Stress and Positive Perceptions in Mothers and Fathers of Pre-School Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 35, 635–644 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-005-0007-8

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