Short report: Social support access among single caregivers with children on the autism spectrum.
Single caregivers of teens and adults with autism feel they have markedly less social support—screen for this and build support plans accordingly.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Sticinski et al. (2022) sent a short survey to caregivers of teens and adults with autism.
They asked how much social support each parent felt they had.
Then they compared single caregivers with partnered caregivers.
What they found
Single caregivers scored much lower on perceived social support.
The gap was large enough to matter in everyday life.
How this fits with other research
The finding extends three earlier surveys. Heiman et al. (2008) first showed parents of kids with Asperger syndrome felt less support than other parents. Ohan et al. (2015) later found mothers inside two-parent homes already reported more unmet needs than fathers. Virginia et al. now show that when no partner is present at all, support drops even further.
Hare et al. (2004) used interviews to describe heavy emotional distress among families caring for adults with autism. The new survey numbers back up those stories with data.
No contradiction appears. Each study adds a layer: earlier work mapped the problem; Virginia et al. pinpoint single status as a key risk factor.
Why it matters
If you serve adults or teens with autism, ask caregivers if they are doing this alone. One extra question can flag a family at risk for burnout. Link single parents to local grand-parent groups, respite vouchers, or online peer forums right away. Small supports close the gap the study uncovered.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Caregivers of children with autism are more likely to experience parenting stress than parents of neurotypical children. Research on parenting stress focuses on partnered caregivers and little is known about the comparative social support experienced by single caregivers. AIM: To explore differences in perceived social support between single versus partnered caregivers of adolescent and adult children on the autism spectrum. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A cross-sectional, quantitative study using the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument (ESSI) as a measure of perceived social support. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to examine the association between caregiver relationship status and perceived social support. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: There were statistically significant associations between relationship status and perceived social support, with single caregivers perceiving less social support than partnered caregivers (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Single caregivers of adolescent and adult children on the autism spectrum perceive less social support than partnered caregivers. Service providers should routinely evaluate the support access of this single caregivers and target support services to address the distinct needs of this population.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2022 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104291