Factors associated with functioning style and coping strategies of families with a child with an autism spectrum disorder.
Coping strategies do not shield autism-parent marriages; you need to target couple communication and outside support instead.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Symons et al. (2005) mailed surveys to parents who have a child with autism. They asked moms and dads how happy they felt in their marriage and how well the family works together.
Parents also listed the coping tricks they use, like exercise or prayer. The team wanted to know if those tricks protect marriage and family life.
What they found
Marriage happiness and family teamwork scored lower than normal, no matter what coping style parents said they used.
Coping skills did not predict better or worse family outcomes. The strain showed up across the board.
How this fits with other research
Fallahchai et al. (2022) looked deeper and found that when parents talk openly about stress and back each other up, the couple bond stays stronger. Their result extends the 2005 picture by showing it is not general coping, but partner teamwork, that matters.
Boudreau et al. (2015) asked the same question with dads only and got the same null result: coping skills did not buffer stress. This conceptual replication strengthens the 2005 finding.
Lovell et al. (2012) flipped the lens to social support and saw real payoff: more support linked to lower distress and healthier morning cortisol. Together the papers say coping styles alone do little, while outside help and spousal teamwork do help.
Why it matters
Stop assuming parents can "cope" their way out of autism-related strain. Screen marital and family health directly, then add partner communication training and community support. A simple Monday move: ask each parent, "What is one thing you wish your partner did to share the load?" Write it down and teach them to trade that act this week.
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Ask each parent to name one concrete way the other can lighten their load today, then set a plan to swap those favors before the next visit.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
A survey of parents/caregivers of a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was conducted to examine the relationship between ASD characteristics, family functioning and coping strategies. Having a child with ASD places considerable stress on the family. Primary caregivers of a child with ASD from a regional and rural area in Victoria, Australia (N = 53) were surveyed concerning their child with ASD, family functioning (adaptability and cohesion), marital satisfaction, self-esteem and coping strategies. Results suggest that these caregivers had healthy self-esteem, although they reported somewhat lower marital happiness, family cohesion and family adaptability than did norm groups. Coping strategies were not significant predictors of these outcome variables. Results highlight the need for support programmes to target family and relationship variables as well as ASD children and their behaviours, in order to sustain the family unit and improve quality of life for parents and caregivers as well as those children.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2005 · doi:10.1177/1362361305051403