Stress of Parenting a Child With Autism Spectrum or Related Disorders
Are you a stressed parent of a child with ASD? You aren’t alone!
In addition to the typical challenges of raising a child, additional variables can cause stress in mothers, fathers, and other caregivers when raising a child with ASD. Coming to terms with the disability can be a challenge in and of itself; however, other factors can cause anxiety and pressure in parents.
The factors that contribute to elevated stress in parents with a child on the autism spectrum are often cited as lack adequate professional support, negative social attitudes towards individuals with autism spectrum disorders, and certain behaviors of the child him- or herself (Pisula, 2011).
On average, children with ASD are assessed by more than four professionals before being diagnosed (Pisula, 2011). Furthermore, it takes approximately 2-3 years to diagnose the child. Another important issue is the limited number of diagnostic and treatment institutions that offer specialized services to those on the autism spectrum. With this, parents may feel a lack of knowledge about the disorder, which can ultimately make it harder to adapt and cope with the situation.
Social attitudes about the disorder can also leave parents feeling uneasy or worrisome. Because many children with autism display behavior that is perceived as ”unusual,” sometimes even “disturbing,” parents may worry about social disapproval from other parents. With a lack of awareness of autism spectrum disorders, there is generally less acceptance of people with this disability than many others. With this widespread lack of knowledge about the disorder, parents may worry about their child being bullied or teased at school.
Lastly, stress is also associated with the child’s ability to interact or regulate in social situations. Communication deficits are seen across a range of verbal and nonverbal skills such as gestures, rhythm, melody, posture, facial expressions, etc. These kind of challenges are usually the primary reason parents seek professional help in the first place. Aggression and self-injury is also common in children with ASD. Aggressive and otherwise destructive behavior are the strongest predictors of parental stress.
Not surprisingly, these stress factors can be lead to poorer health outcomes for parents. According to a study conducted by The Journal of Autism Research, 74 mothers raising children on the autism spectrum wore an ambulatory blood pressure monitor that collected systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate over a 24-hour period. The study reported high levels of parenting stress and anxiety, and moderately high levels of depression in participants.
Even though there are many challenges stacked against parents raising children with ASD, knowing these stress factors can help develop methods of support. Because, after all, watching one’s child learn and grow is well worth the stress. Parenting these one-of-a-kind individuals is trying, but it can be an extremely rewarding experience in the end.
References
Foody, C., James, J., & Leader, G. (2014). Parenting stress, salivary biomarkers, and ambulatory blood pressure in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders. The Journal of Autism Research, 8(2), 99-110. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750946713002110
Pisula, E. (2011). Parenting stress in mothers and fathers of children with autism spectrum disorders. A comprehensive book on autism spectrum disorders. Retrieved from http://www.intechopen.com/books/a-comprehensive-book-on-autism-spectrum-disorders/parenting-stress-in-mothers-and-fathers-of-children-with-autism-spectrum-disorders
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