The double ABCX model of family adaptation in families of a child with an autism spectrum disorder attending an Australian early intervention service
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Author(s)
Paynter, Jessica
Riley, Emma
Beamish, Wendi
Davies, Michael
Milford, Todd
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2013
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It is well established that families caring for a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience increased psychological distress compared to other families (e.g., Baker-Ericzén, Brookman-Frazee, & Stahmer, 2005; Lee et al., 2009). However, little research has captured the range of variables linked to family outcomes, and research in the early childhood period has been largely atheoretical. The current study sought to investigate the applicability of the double ABCX Model of Family Adaptation (McCubbin & Patterson, 1983) in understanding the factors underlying family outcomes when children with ASD attend early ...
View more >It is well established that families caring for a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience increased psychological distress compared to other families (e.g., Baker-Ericzén, Brookman-Frazee, & Stahmer, 2005; Lee et al., 2009). However, little research has captured the range of variables linked to family outcomes, and research in the early childhood period has been largely atheoretical. The current study sought to investigate the applicability of the double ABCX Model of Family Adaptation (McCubbin & Patterson, 1983) in understanding the factors underlying family outcomes when children with ASD attend early intervention. Participants included 43 parents (18 males, 25 females) of children aged 2.5 to 6 years (M = 49.35, SD = 9.21 months; 8 female, 35 male) with ASD who were attending an autism-specific intervention service. Participants completed standardised questionnaire measures of constructs of the double ABCX Model. As predicted by the model, family systems outcomes (individual, relationship, or family) were linked to symptom severity (challenging behaviour), pile-up demands, internal and external resources, appraisals, and active-avoidant coping styles. Level of ASD symptoms however, were not significantly linked to outcomes. Limitations, directions for future research, and practical implications are discussed.
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View more >It is well established that families caring for a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience increased psychological distress compared to other families (e.g., Baker-Ericzén, Brookman-Frazee, & Stahmer, 2005; Lee et al., 2009). However, little research has captured the range of variables linked to family outcomes, and research in the early childhood period has been largely atheoretical. The current study sought to investigate the applicability of the double ABCX Model of Family Adaptation (McCubbin & Patterson, 1983) in understanding the factors underlying family outcomes when children with ASD attend early intervention. Participants included 43 parents (18 males, 25 females) of children aged 2.5 to 6 years (M = 49.35, SD = 9.21 months; 8 female, 35 male) with ASD who were attending an autism-specific intervention service. Participants completed standardised questionnaire measures of constructs of the double ABCX Model. As predicted by the model, family systems outcomes (individual, relationship, or family) were linked to symptom severity (challenging behaviour), pile-up demands, internal and external resources, appraisals, and active-avoidant coping styles. Level of ASD symptoms however, were not significantly linked to outcomes. Limitations, directions for future research, and practical implications are discussed.
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Journal Title
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Volume
7
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
© 2013 Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, providing that the work is properly cited.
Subject
Specialist studies in education
Special education and disability