STRESS
AND PERSONAL RESOURCE AS PREDICTORS OF THE
ADJUSTMENT
OF PARENTS TO AUTISTIC CHILDREN: A
MULTIVARIATE
MODEL
A.
Siman Tov1, S.
Kaniel2
1
Kibbutzim College
of Education Technology, Israel ; 2 Bar
Ilan University, Israel
The research
validates a multivariate model that predicts parental
adjustment to
coping successfully with an autistic child. The model
comprises four
elements: parental stress, parental resources, parental
adjustment and the
child’s autism symptoms. 176 parents of children
aged between 6 to
16 diagnosed with PDD answered several
questionnaires
measuring parental stress, personal resources (sense
of coherence, locus
of control, social support) adjustment (mental
health and marriage
quality) and the child’s autism symptoms. Path
analysis showed
that sense of coherence, internal locus of control,
social support and
quality of marriage increase the ability to cope with
the stress of
parenting an autistic child. Directions for further research
are suggested.
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