EXPLORATORY STUDY: STRESS, COPING AND SUPPORT AMONG PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Meri NOLCHEVA1
Vladimir TRAJKOVSKI2

1Unemploded special educator, Skopje, Macedonia
2University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius”, Faculty of Philosophy, Institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Skopje, Macedonia

Recived: 08.07.2015
Accepted: 24.07.2015
Original article

Citation: Nolcheva M, Trajkovski V. Exploratory study: stress, coping and support among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. J Spec Educ Rehab 2015; 16(3-4):84-100. doi: 10.1515/JSER-2015-0013

Abstract

Introduction:Each year more families are confronted with unique challenges related to raising a child with ASD. Parenting stress is a significant aspect of fulfilling the role as a parent, and having a child with ASD greatly influences the experienced stress. The literature review indicates that parenting stress is inversely proportional to family support and coping mechanisms.

Aim:Appraising the stress level among parents of children with ASD, the coping mechanisms and the level of family support, in comparison with parents of children diagnosed with ID.

Method:A group of parents of children with ASD (N=35) and a second group of children with ID (N=35) completed four questionnnaires: PSI-SF, Brief COPE, FSS and demographic questionnaire. The data was analyzed using t-test for comparison, Chi-square test for comparing frequency distributions and Pearson coefficient for correlation, with p<r;0.05 level of significance

Results:Parenting stress did not differ between the two groups. The coping mechanisms used by the parents of children with ASD showed that increased usage of distraction (r=0.469) and disengagement (r=0.567) increased the level of parenting stress. Family support (r=-0.415) is a key buffer and coping mechanism for managing the stress in parents of children with ASD.

Conclusion:There are no differences in the level of stress, coping mechanisms and the level of support comparing parents of children with ASD and ID.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, parenting stress, coping mechanisms, family support

Full Text Article