Family functioning and coping behaviors in parents of children with autism

We looked at how a child with autism affects the dynamics and coping behaviors of a family. A majority of studies on families with a child with autism collect information from the mother but not the father. Therefore, this study examined the involvement of both parents from a family systems theory approach, which compares relationships among different familial variables, to determine the contributions of each individual to the developmental outcomes of the family unit. It was hypothesized that moderate levels of cohesion and adaptability would be associated with higher levels of positive coping mechanisms. Further, the more coping strategies implemented by a family would predict greater satisfaction with their family functioning. It was also expected that mothers would rate their families as more cohesive and adaptable, and more likely to implement positive coping strategies, and would perceive more social support than fathers. Results suggest that enmeshed families generally implement more positive coping strategies than other cohesion styles. Further, mothers perceive more social support from their family and friends than fathers do. It appears that families of children with autism have family styles similar to a normed group of families, except there were more chaotic and less rigid families in this sample. Future research ideas and possible implications of these findings are discussed

Intentions to seek therapy, attitudes, and stigma: An analysis of the theory of reasoned action

The relatively low utilization of mental health care is a concern for psychology, as only 32% of individuals with a psychological disorder receive treatment (Andrews, Issakidis, & Carter, 2001). It is typically attitudinal rather than structural barriers that influence individuals when deciding to pursue treatment (Outram, Murphy, & Cockburn, 2004). This study utilized the theory of reasoned action as a model to test the relationship among variables hypothesized to contribute to the intention to seek therapy: public stigma, self-stigma, social support, self-efficacy, attitudes toward seeking therapy, and psychological distress. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to evaluate barriers to seeking therapy. Structural equation modeling was used to show that the theory of reasoned action provided a good fit to the data, as positive attitudes toward therapy was a stronger predictor of intentions to seek therapy than self-stigma. The statistical model that included all of the variables demonstrated that positive attitudes toward therapy and higher levels of social support were both direct predictors of higher intentions to seek therapy. In the qualitative interviews, the majority of barriers described by participants were attitudinal rather than structural. These individuals related experiences of shame, prejudice, and stigma related to seeking psychological treatment. However, participants described critically significant support and encouragement from their social network. Based on the results, recommendations are made for future studies and mental health advocacy efforts