Abstract
There is little dispute among professionals that autism is a biologically based disorder, probably of multiple etiologies (e.g., Schopler & Mesibov, 1987). Although biological in origin, it also appears to be the case that how a family responds to a child’s autism can, in some cases, influence the child’s educational gains and manifestation of behavior problems. A chaotic, disorganized family, or a clinically depressed parent, will have difficulty creating the kind of consistency to which these youngsters best respond. Thus, family problems may influence the development of the child with autism. Conversely, the child’s disability can have a major impact on family functioning. These two factors may intertwine, with family dysfunction heightening the child’s needs, and the child’s behavior problems intensifying family difficulties.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Beach, S. R. H., Sandeen, E. E., & O’Leary, K. D. (1990). Depression in marriage. New York: Guilford.
Bristol, M. M. (1984). Family resources and successful adaptation to autistic children. In E. Schopler & G. B. Mesibov (Eds.), The effects of autism on the family (pp. 289–310). New York: Plenum.
Bristol, M. M. (1987). Mothers of children with autism or communication disorders: Successful adaptation and the double ABCX model. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 17, 469–486.
Bristol, M. M., Gallagher, J. J., & Schopler, E. (1988). Mothers and fathers of young developmentally disabled and nondisabled boys: Adaptation and spousal support. Developmental Psychology, 24, 441–451.
Bristol, M. M., & Schopler, E. (1983). Stress and coping in families of autistic adolescents. In E. Schopler & G. B. Mesibov (Eds.), Autism in adolescents and adults (pp. 251–278). New York: Plenum.
DeMyer, M. K. (1979). Parents and children in autism. New York: Wiley.
DeMyer, M. K., & Goldberg, P. (1983). Family needs of the autistic adolescent. In E. Schopler & G. B. Mesibov (Eds.), Autism in adolescents and adults (pp. 225–250). New York: Plenum.
Fong, P. L. (1989). Perceived stress in mothers of autistic adolescents. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
Fong, P. L. (1991). Cognitive appraisal in high and low stress mothers of adolescents with autism. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 471–474.
Fong, P. L., & Harris, S. L. (1991). Perceived stress in mothers of autistic adolescents and mothers of nonhandicapped adolescents. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Ganellen, R. J., & Blaney, P. H. (1984). Hardiness and social support as moderators of life stress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 156–163.
Gath, A. (1978). Down’s syndrome and the family—The early years. London: Academic.
Gill, M. J. (1990). The assessment of social support and individual characteristics as buffers against stress in mothers of handicapped and non-handicapped children. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
Gill, M. J., & Harris, S. L. (1991). Hardiness and social support as predictors of psychological discomfort in mothers of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 21, 407–416.
Harris, S. L. (1983). Families of the developmentally disabled: A guide to behavioral intervention. Elmsford, NY: Pergamon.
Harris, S. L., Alessandri, M., & Gill, M. J. (1991). Training parents of developmentally disabled children. In J. L. Matson & J. A. Mulick (Eds.), Handbook of mental retardation (2nd ed., pp. 373–381). Elmsford, NY: Pergamon.
Harris, S. L., Gill, M. J., & Alessandri, M. (1990). The family with an autistic child. In M. Seligman (Ed.), The family with a handicapped child (2nd ed., pp. 269–294). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Hill, R. (1949). Families under stress. New York: Harper & Row.
Holroyd, J. (1974). The questionnaire on resources and stress: An instrument to measure family response to a handicapped family member. Journal of Community Psychology, 2, 92–94.
Kobasa, S. C. (1979). Stressful life events, personality, and health: An inquiry into hardiness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 1–11.
Koegel, R. L., Schreibman, L., Johnson, J., O’Neill, R. E., & Dunlap, G. (1984). Collateral effects of parent training on families with autistic children. In R. F. Dangel & R. A. Polster (Eds.), Parent training: Foundations of research and practice (pp. 358–378). New York: Guilford.
Koegel, R. L., Schreibman, L., O’Neill, R. E., & Burke, J. C. (1983). The personality and family-interaction characteristics of parents of autistic children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51, 683–692.
Kolko, D. J. (1984). Parents as behavior therapists for their autistic child. In E. Schopler and G. B. Mesibov (Eds.), The effects of autism on the family (pp. 145–162). New York: Plenum.
Lamb, M. E. (1983). Fathers of exceptional children. In M. Seligman (Ed.), The family with a handicapped child: Understanding and treatment (pp. 125–146). New York: Grune & Stratton.
Lonsdale, G. (1978). Family life with a handicapped child: The parents speak. Child Care, Health, and Development, 4, 99-120.
Mates, T. E. (1990). Siblings of autistic children: Their adjustment and performance at home and in school. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 20, 545–553.
McCubbin, H. I., & Patterson, J. M. (1983). Family transitions: Adaptation to stress. In H. I. McCubbin & C. R. Figley (Eds.), Stress and the family. Vol. I. Coping with normative transitions (pp. 5–25). New York: Brunner-Mazel.
McHale, S. M., Sloan, J., & Simeonsson, R. J. (1986). Sibling relationships of children with autistic, mentally retarded, and nonhandicapped brothers and sisters. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 16, 399–413.
Milgram, N. A., & Atzil, M. (1988). Parenting stress in raising autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 18, 415–424.
Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and Family Therapy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Moos, R., & Moos, B. (1981). Family Environment Scale manual. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Morgan, S. A. (1988). The autistic child and family functioning: A developmental-family systems perspective. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 18, 263–280.
Peterson, C. (1982). Learned helplessness and attributional interventions in depression. In C. Antaki & C. Brewin (Eds.), Attributions and psychological change (pp. 97–115). New York: Academic.
Schopler, E., & Mesibov, G. B. (1987). Introduction to neurobiological issues in autism. In E. Schopler & G. B. Mesibov (Eds.), Neurobiological issues in autism (pp. 3–11). New York: Plenum.
Wilder, L. (1981). Chronic stress of families of mentally retarded children. Family Retardation, 30, 281–288.
Wikler, L., Wasow, M., & Hatfield, E. (1981). Chronic sorrow revisited: Parent vs. professional depiction of the adjustment of parents of mentally retarded children. American Journal of Ortho-psychiatry, 51, 63–70.
Wikler, L. M. (1986). Periodic stresses of families of older mentally retarded children: An exploratory study. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 90, 703–706.
Wolf, L. C., Noh, S., Fisman, S. N., & Speechley, M. (1989). Brief report: Psychological effects of parenting stress on parents of autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 19, 157–166.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Harris, S.L. (1994). Treatment of Family Problems in Autism. In: Schopler, E., Mesibov, G.B. (eds) Behavioral Issues in Autism. Current Issues in Autism. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9400-7_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9400-7_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9402-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9400-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive