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Compassionate Parenting as a Key to Satisfaction, Efficacy and Meaning Among Mothers of Children with Autism

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Abstract

Two studies examine the role of compassionate and self-image parenting goals in the experience of mothers of children with autism. In Study 1, a comparison sample was included. Study 1 included measures of parenting goals, life satisfaction, family life satisfaction, parenting satisfaction, and meaning in life. Study 2 incorporated a measure of parenting efficacy. Study 1 showed that mothers of children with autism were higher than comparison mothers in compassionate parenting goals. In both studies, compassionate parenting predicted positive outcomes including higher parenting satisfaction (both studies), family life satisfaction, meaning in life (Study 1) and higher parenting efficacy (Study 2). These studies support the notion that compassionate parenting is a key to satisfaction for mothers of children with autism.

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Notes

  1. This questionnaire also asked parents to think back and respond to these items according to how they felt when they had only 1 child, in order to examine how the variables of interest may have changed with the introduction of a child with autism for families who had their child with autism second (n = 35). Because of the small number of such families, these changes are not included in the analyses reported here.

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Acknowledgments

I am grateful for the assistance of my students Mai Duong, Caitlyn Lucas, Elizabeth Paulino, Shaterra Redd and Kristen Stonehill, as well as Connie Anderson and Alison R. Marvin of the IAN Project who facilitated the data collection for the studies reported here and to Eugene Fodor, Anne Fontana, William J. Porta, Ellen Kuhl Repetto and Rebecca Shiner Jennifer Tomlinson and an anonymous reviewer for their comments on an earlier version of this manuscript. This research was supported by a grant from Colgate University’s Research Council.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, 13346, USA

    Regina Conti

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  1. Regina Conti
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Correspondence to Regina Conti.

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Conti, R. Compassionate Parenting as a Key to Satisfaction, Efficacy and Meaning Among Mothers of Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 2008–2018 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2360-6

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