scholarly journals Social Support and Family Functioning in Chinese Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Author(s):  
Xianmei Lei ◽  
Jiří Kantor

Families caring for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have reported poorer family functioning. Social support might strengthen family functioning, but limited research to date has focused on this association in China. This study conducted a cross-sectional survey of Chinese families that have children with ASD to examine the relationship between social support and family functioning. Caregivers of children with ASD from Sichuan province in China (N = 167) were surveyed concerning their perceived social support and family functioning. The Social Support Rating Scale was used to investigate caregivers’ perceived social support from three dimensions: subjective support, objective support, and the utilization of support. A Chinese version of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale was used to investigate their perceptions of family cohesion and adaptability. The Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression were used for analyses. The results suggested that social support was positively related to family cohesion and adaptability. Of the three sub-domains of social support, both subjective support and the utilization of support were positively associated with family cohesion and adaptability. The study’s findings evidenced the importance of different types of social support and could be used to develop a targeted support service for families that have children with ASD to improve their family functioning and sustain the family unit.

2021 ◽  
pp. 106648072110050
Author(s):  
Dinie Ratri Desiningrum ◽  
Dewi Retno Suminar ◽  
Endang Retno Surjaningrum ◽  
Suryanto ◽  
Wiwin Hendriani

Purpose: The purpose of the research is to find husband’s social support for mother of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The problem of this study is how the forms of husband’s social support are perceived by mothers of children with ASD, and what are the factors and impacts for mothers perceived about husband’s social support. Method: The research was conducted on family having children with autism aged 5–14 years, employing a qualitative method by interviewing 10 mother participants. Data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results: The analysis resulted in five themes. First, the impact of disability of children with ASD on marriage relationship; second, the role of husband in parenting children with ASD; third, the perception of mother for husband’s social support; fourth, some factors influences to husband social supports; and fifth, the effects of husband’s social support for mother, children with ASD, and family. The discussion and limitations of this study are considered. Applications/Originality/Value: The results of this study are expected to be a reference for scientists, especially in the field of psychology of children with special needs, and can also contribute to the application of science to institutions related to ASD and observers of children with ASD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 014-018
Author(s):  
Suprajitno Suprajitno ◽  
Frizcha Illah Arisky

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulty of activity and readability so that dependently to a parent or others. The study purpose to describe the family role in fulfilling of the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) for children with ASD who gets service at Autism Center of Blitar City (Bahasa: Pusat Layanan Autis Kota Blitar). The study used descriptive-survey as a design to determine family roles among ASD children, the researcher purposively selected 34 families to be part of the study. Questionnaires were developed inspired by the theory of basic human needs and self-care and underwent validity and reliability tests. This study result showed that the family role in fulfilling the ADLs for children with ASD in the good category as many as 67.6% (23 families), in enough category as many as 29.4% (10 families), and in less category as many as 3.0% (1 family). Fulfillment of ADLs for children with ASD who need attention is the fulfillment of nutrition because parents must ensure that food that has entered into the mouth should be swallowed. Results also found out that inadequate nutrition affects child’s with ASD growth and development. The study strongly recommends the roles of parents as vital in meeting the needs of the children  and stimulates development.


Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 136236132096684
Author(s):  
Evangelia Koukouriki ◽  
Sryridon-Georgios Soulis ◽  
Elias Andreoulakis

Previous research has shown elevated levels of depressive symptoms in typically developing siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders. The current study investigates for associations between the depressive symptoms of school-aged typically developing siblings of children with autism and parental mental health, perceived social support as well as demographic factors. Eighty-five Greek typically developing siblings of autistic children and their parents provided information concerning children’s depressive symptoms (assessed with the Children’s Depression Inventory), demographics, parent mental health status (assessed with the General Health Questionnaire-28), and perceived social support (assessed with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support). Typically developing siblings showed higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to normative data. The hierarchical multiple regressions performed showed that typically developing siblings’ depressive symptoms were significantly associated with parental anxiety and perceived social support from the family. Of note, parental anxiety remained associated with typically developing siblings’ depressive symptoms independent of perceived social support. These findings demonstrate a direct link between typically developing siblings’ psychopathological symptoms and those of their parents and highlight the need for family-centered interventions, not limited to providing social support. Lay abstract Typically developing siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders are often found to exhibit elevated levels of stress and depressive symptoms compared to siblings of typically developing children or siblings of children with other disabilities. Besides the behavioral problems of the child with autism and certain demographic characteristics that have been recognized as factors associated with typically developing siblings’ psychological distress, the role of parental mental health and the social support from the family has not been studied sufficiently. The goal of this study is to assess depressive symptoms in 85 Greek school-aged typically developing siblings of children with autism and to investigate for any associations between siblings’ depressive symptoms on one hand and demographics, parental mental health, and perceived social support on the other hand. It was found that typically developing siblings had higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to children from a general population sample. In addition, parental anxiety and social support from the family as perceived by the parents themselves were identified as independently associated with typically developing siblings’ depressive symptoms. Of note, perceived social support failed to attenuate the association between parental anxiety and siblings’ depressive symptoms. These results highlight the importance of assessing both parental and typically developing siblings’ psychological state to implement interventions addressed to the needs of all family members.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document