Examining the Links Between Challenging Behaviors in Youth with ASD and Parental Stress, Mental Health, and Involvement: Applying an Adaptation of the Family Stress Model to Families of Youth with ASD

Authors

Hillary Schiltz, Marquette UniversityFollow
Alana J. McVey, Marquette UniversityFollow
Brooke E. Magnus, Marquette UniversityFollow
Bridget Kathleen Dolan, Marquette UniversityFollow
Kirsten S. Willar, Marquette UniversityFollow
Sheryl Pleiss, Marquette UniversityFollow
Jeffrey S. Karst, Marquette UniversityFollow
Audrey Meyer Carson, Marquette UniversityFollow
Christina Caiozzo, Marquette UniversityFollow
Elisabeth M. Vogt, Marquette UniversityFollow
Amy V. Van Hecke, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

4-2018

Publisher

Springer

Source Publication

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Source ISSN

0162-3257

Abstract

Raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) poses unique challenges that may impact parents’ mental health and parenting experiences. The current study analyzed self-report data from 77 parents of youth with ASD. A serial multiple mediation model revealed that parenting stress (SIPA) and parental mental health (BAI and BDI-II) appears to be impacted by challenging adolescent behaviors (SSIS-PBs) and, in turn, affect parental involvement (PRQ), controlling for social skills (SSIS-SSs). Further, the study explored the malleability of parents’ mental health over the course of a social skills intervention, and provides modest evidence that parent depressive symptoms decline across intervention. This study illustrates the importance of considering the entire family system in research on youth with ASD.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Vol. 48, No. 4 (April 2018): 1169-1180. DOI. © 2017 Springer Nature Switzerland AG. Part of Springer Nature. Used with permission.

Sharable link provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative.

Recommended Citation

Schiltz, Hillary; McVey, Alana J.; Magnus, Brooke E.; Dolan, Bridget Kathleen; Willar, Kirsten S.; Pleiss, Sheryl; Karst, Jeffrey S.; Carson, Audrey Meyer; Caiozzo, Christina; Vogt, Elisabeth M.; and Van Hecke, Amy V., "Examining the Links Between Challenging Behaviors in Youth with ASD and Parental Stress, Mental Health, and Involvement: Applying an Adaptation of the Family Stress Model to Families of Youth with ASD" (2018). Psychology Faculty Research and Publications. 350.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/psych_fac/350