Family Member Needs Of Autistic Children

Abstract

For the families in this study, the problems of parenting a child with autism, and their means of coping with it, have changed over time. The total number of coping strategies reported by parents declined and there was a general shift away from problem-focused towards emotion-focused means of coping. In particular, the reliance on service providers has declined and the relative importance of religion and other coping strategies such as an appreciation of their child’s good qualities have increased. The reasons for these changes may reflect both the changing problems of the children and the services currently available for their treatment. In fact, most of the children have improved over time as they have become less disrupted and more orderly in their habits.