Perceptions of Family Problems and Pessimism Among Latina and Non-Latina White Mothers Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Latina mothers of children with autism bring built-in family cohesion—use it as your first clinical tool.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Lopez et al. (2020) asked Latina and non-Latina White mothers about family problems and future worries.
They used a survey. All mothers had a child with autism.
The team compared answers between the two groups.
What they found
Latina mothers saw fewer family problems.
They also felt less pessimistic about their child’s future.
Strong family ties linked to brighter outlooks.
How this fits with other research
Blacher et al. (2013) tracked families over years. Latino mothers kept high positive views while Anglo mothers’ views dropped. Kristina’s 2020 survey matches this trend.
McGarty et al. (2018) found Latina mothers who see autism as a mystery use more services. That looks like a contradiction—why would hopeful moms seek more help? The difference is the question asked. M et al. measured belief about cause; Kristina measured mood about the future. A mom can feel hopeful yet still want answers.
Magaña et al. (2020) ran a parent class for Latino families. It raised moms’ confidence and child skills. Kristina shows these moms already bring family strength; Sandy shows we can build on it.
Why it matters
You can start treatment planning by asking, “What is going well at home?” Latina families often name close-knit support. Use that cohesion to set goals and share strategies. Non-Latina White families may instead need help building shared optimism. Either way, map cultural strengths first, then add skills.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
To address the limited research on diverse families of children with ASD, we examined the impact of ASD on 46 Latina and 56 non-Latina White mothers from a resiliency perspective. We explored perceptions of family problems, optimism and pessimism among mothers of child with ASD between 1 and 22 years old. Mothers were recruited through support groups and listservs. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results indicated fewer perceived family problems and less pessimism about the child's future among Latina mothers. We found maternal optimism and family cohesion were associated with perceived family problems and mother's pessimism about the child's future. Understanding the impact of ASD among diverse families will aid in developing appropriate services that enhances family strengths.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2020 · doi:10.1007/s10803-018-3640-8