Family functioning in Asian families raising children with autism spectrum disorders: the role of capabilities and positive meanings.
Concrete coping skills, not positive thinking, protect Asian families raising kids with autism.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team asked 65 Singaporean parents of kids with autism to fill out a survey.
They wanted to know what helps families stay strong when caregiving is hard.
They tested two ideas: positive thinking and real coping skills.
What they found
Only coping skills mattered.
When parents had better skills, the family worked well even when demands were high.
Positive thoughts alone did not protect the family.
How this fits with other research
Divan et al. (2012) in India also saw heavy strain, but they did not test what shields families.
Cramm et al. (2009) showed coping beats personality for dads, matching this study.
García-López et al. (2016) found couple closeness helps parents cope.
That result does not clash with ours; it adds another layer you can target.
Why it matters
Skip the pep talks.
Teach parents real moves: how to pull the family together, learn about autism, and share tasks.
These skills are the lever that keeps the household running.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: There has been increasing interest in exploring the factors contributing to successful adaptation and family functioning in ethnically and culturally diverse families who raise children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), in order to inform more appropriate strength-based family support services. This pilot study used the Family Adjustment and Adaptation Response (FAAR) model as a theoretical framework to investigate the role of families' capabilities (coping strategies and resources of support) and positive meanings in raising a child with ASD in family functioning in an Asian context. METHODS: Sixty-five Singaporean parents of 3- to 11-year-old children with ASD completed a series of questionnaires on demands, coping strategies, social support, positive meanings and family functioning. RESULTS: Families reported a number of helpful coping strategies. Coping through family integration/optimism was most helpful, followed by understanding the condition and by developing esteem and psychological stability. Reported capabilities, but not positive meanings, mediated the relationship between demands and family functioning. CONCLUSION: The findings are discussed in relation to existing literature, possible specific cultural issues, and the strengths and limitations of the study. Implications for supporting families of children with ASD in different social and cultural contexts are also discussed.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2014 · doi:10.1111/jir.12034