| Autism and Parenting Stress. Parenting a child with autism is an extraordinary challenge. Bright Tots information on child development. |
|
| Autism and Parenting Stress |
Presently more parents are rearing children with autism than ever before. Parenting a child with autism is an
extraordinary challenge and can be extremely stressful understanding issues that contribute to parental pressure is of
greatest importance. In comparison to parents of typically developing children, parents raising children with disabilities
experience more parenting stress and have higher rates of depression. Even among parents raising children with
disabilities, parents of children with autism report significantly higher levels of stress.
The primary cause of these results may be that parenting stress is associated with the frequency and extent of the child’
s stereotypical behavior such as social phobia, compulsive behavior, and communication difficulties. Children with
autism often engage in unusual behaviors, have heightened sensory and transition difficulties. Presented the unique
stresses and challenges inherited in parenting a child with autism, maintaining a positive sense of parenting capability
may be extremely difficult. Too often parents are not advised through the complicated process of coming to terms with
their child’s diagnosis.
Knowledge of the main deficits in autism (i.e., communication, social relating), characteristic stereotypes, origin of
autism, and effective intervention methods may also alleviate thoughts about parental competence. Stereotypic and
compulsive behaviors concern parents since they appear peculiar and interfere with functioning and learning. If a child
has impairments in social skills, such as the lack of appropriate play, stress may be increased for families. Children with
autism often require constant structure of their time, an unrealistic task to achieve in the home environment.
Autism Behaviors and Stress
In a recent study, mothers of children with autism reported more difficulty understanding their children’s behaviors than
mothers of typically developing children. An individual with autism may not express their basic wants or needs in a
manner that we would expect. Therefore, parents are left playing a guessing game. Is the child crying because he/she is
thirsty, hungry, or sick? When parents cannot determine their child's needs, both are left feeling frustrated. The child's
frustration can lead to aggressive or self-injurious behaviors that threaten their safety and the safety of other family
members (e.g., siblings). Families struggle with the additional challenges of getting their child to sleep through the night
or eat a wider variety of foods. All of these demands and behaviors are physically exhausting for families and
emotionally draining.
For families of children on the autism spectrum meals can be a hassle. Scheduled dinner times may not be pleasant due
to the child's inability to sit appropriately for lengthen periods of time. Bedtime routines can be interrupted by difficulties
sleeping. Autistic behaviors may prevent families from attending events together. For example, Mom might have to stay
home while Dad takes the sibling to his/her soft ball game. Not being able to do things as a family can impact the marital
relationship. In addition, spouses often cannot spend time alone due to the extreme parenting obligations and the lack of
qualified caregivers to watch a child with autism.
Concerns over Future Care-giving
One of the most significant sources of stress is the concern regarding future care-giving. Parents know that they
provide their child with exceptional care; they fear that no one will take care of their child like they do. There may also
be no other family members willing or capable of accomplishing this task. Even though parents try to put off thinking
about the future, these thoughts and worries are still constantly present.
Feelings of Isolation from Society
Taking an individual with autism out into the community can be a cause of stress for parents. People may stare, make
comments or fail to understand any mishaps or behaviors that may occur. For example, individuals with autism have
been seen taking a stranger's food right off his/her plate. As a result of these potential experiences, families often feel
uncomfortable taking their child to the homes of friends or relatives. This makes holidays a particularly difficult time for
these families. Feeling like they cannot socialize or relate to others, parents of children with autism may experience a
sense of isolation from their friends, relatives and community.
Feelings of Grief
Parents of children with autism are grieving the loss of the "typical" child that they expected to have. In addition, parents
are grieving the loss of lifestyle that they expected for themselves and their family. The feelings of grief that parents
experience can be an additional cause of stress due to its ongoing nature. Current theories of grief suggest that parents
of children with developmental disabilities experience episodes of grief throughout the life cycle as different events (e.g.,
birthdays, holidays, and unending care-giving) trigger grief reactions. Experiencing persistent sorrow is a psychological
stressor that can be frustrating, confusing and depressing.
Finances
Having a child with autism can exhaust a family's resources due to expenses such as evaluations, home programs, and
various therapies. The care-giving demands of raising a child with autism may lead one parent to give up his or her job,
making financial strains more intense by only having one income to support all of the family’s needs.
Take Time for Yourself and Other Family Members
In order to avoid distress, parents must make time for themselves. Parents often respond to this suggestion by saying
that they don't have any available time. Parents, just like individuals with autism, need rewards in order to be motivated.
Parents who have children with autism have even more of a need to reward themselves because parenting their child can
be frustrating and stressful.
In addition to rewarding themselves, family members need to reward one another. Spouses need to acknowledge the
hard work that each is achieving. Also, remember to thank siblings for watching or helping out their brothers and
sisters. It is also important that spouses try to spend some time alone. Again, the quantity of time is not as important as
the quality. This may include watching television together when the children are asleep, going out to dinner, or meeting
for lunch when the children are in school.
Families may also want to occasionally engage in activities without the individual with autism. This may include mom,
dad and the siblings going to the movies together. Often families feel guilty not including the individual with autism, but
everyone deserves to enjoy time together that is not threatened by the burdens of autism.
Meet Other Families with an Autistic Children
It gives us comfort to know that we are not the only ones experiencing a stressful situation. In addition, one can get the
most useful advice from others facing similar challenges and using similar services and supports. Support groups for
parents, siblings and grandparents are available through educational programs, parent resource centers, local Autism
Society of America chapters and Developmental Disabilities Offices. In addition, there are now online supports available
for family members.
Helpful Strategies
• Set realistic goals and appropriate responsibility.
• Break large tasks into small ones.
• Confide in someone instead of being alone and reserved.
• Participate in activities that may make you feel better like exercise or a movie.
• Expect your mood to improve gradually.
• Postpone important decisions until the stress has subsided.
• Accept help from your spouse, family and friends.
extraordinary challenge and can be extremely stressful understanding issues that contribute to parental pressure is of
greatest importance. In comparison to parents of typically developing children, parents raising children with disabilities
experience more parenting stress and have higher rates of depression. Even among parents raising children with
disabilities, parents of children with autism report significantly higher levels of stress.
The primary cause of these results may be that parenting stress is associated with the frequency and extent of the child’
s stereotypical behavior such as social phobia, compulsive behavior, and communication difficulties. Children with
autism often engage in unusual behaviors, have heightened sensory and transition difficulties. Presented the unique
stresses and challenges inherited in parenting a child with autism, maintaining a positive sense of parenting capability
may be extremely difficult. Too often parents are not advised through the complicated process of coming to terms with
their child’s diagnosis.
Knowledge of the main deficits in autism (i.e., communication, social relating), characteristic stereotypes, origin of
autism, and effective intervention methods may also alleviate thoughts about parental competence. Stereotypic and
compulsive behaviors concern parents since they appear peculiar and interfere with functioning and learning. If a child
has impairments in social skills, such as the lack of appropriate play, stress may be increased for families. Children with
autism often require constant structure of their time, an unrealistic task to achieve in the home environment.
Autism Behaviors and Stress
In a recent study, mothers of children with autism reported more difficulty understanding their children’s behaviors than
mothers of typically developing children. An individual with autism may not express their basic wants or needs in a
manner that we would expect. Therefore, parents are left playing a guessing game. Is the child crying because he/she is
thirsty, hungry, or sick? When parents cannot determine their child's needs, both are left feeling frustrated. The child's
frustration can lead to aggressive or self-injurious behaviors that threaten their safety and the safety of other family
members (e.g., siblings). Families struggle with the additional challenges of getting their child to sleep through the night
or eat a wider variety of foods. All of these demands and behaviors are physically exhausting for families and
emotionally draining.
For families of children on the autism spectrum meals can be a hassle. Scheduled dinner times may not be pleasant due
to the child's inability to sit appropriately for lengthen periods of time. Bedtime routines can be interrupted by difficulties
sleeping. Autistic behaviors may prevent families from attending events together. For example, Mom might have to stay
home while Dad takes the sibling to his/her soft ball game. Not being able to do things as a family can impact the marital
relationship. In addition, spouses often cannot spend time alone due to the extreme parenting obligations and the lack of
qualified caregivers to watch a child with autism.
Concerns over Future Care-giving
One of the most significant sources of stress is the concern regarding future care-giving. Parents know that they
provide their child with exceptional care; they fear that no one will take care of their child like they do. There may also
be no other family members willing or capable of accomplishing this task. Even though parents try to put off thinking
about the future, these thoughts and worries are still constantly present.
Feelings of Isolation from Society
Taking an individual with autism out into the community can be a cause of stress for parents. People may stare, make
comments or fail to understand any mishaps or behaviors that may occur. For example, individuals with autism have
been seen taking a stranger's food right off his/her plate. As a result of these potential experiences, families often feel
uncomfortable taking their child to the homes of friends or relatives. This makes holidays a particularly difficult time for
these families. Feeling like they cannot socialize or relate to others, parents of children with autism may experience a
sense of isolation from their friends, relatives and community.
Feelings of Grief
Parents of children with autism are grieving the loss of the "typical" child that they expected to have. In addition, parents
are grieving the loss of lifestyle that they expected for themselves and their family. The feelings of grief that parents
experience can be an additional cause of stress due to its ongoing nature. Current theories of grief suggest that parents
of children with developmental disabilities experience episodes of grief throughout the life cycle as different events (e.g.,
birthdays, holidays, and unending care-giving) trigger grief reactions. Experiencing persistent sorrow is a psychological
stressor that can be frustrating, confusing and depressing.
Finances
Having a child with autism can exhaust a family's resources due to expenses such as evaluations, home programs, and
various therapies. The care-giving demands of raising a child with autism may lead one parent to give up his or her job,
making financial strains more intense by only having one income to support all of the family’s needs.
Take Time for Yourself and Other Family Members
In order to avoid distress, parents must make time for themselves. Parents often respond to this suggestion by saying
that they don't have any available time. Parents, just like individuals with autism, need rewards in order to be motivated.
Parents who have children with autism have even more of a need to reward themselves because parenting their child can
be frustrating and stressful.
In addition to rewarding themselves, family members need to reward one another. Spouses need to acknowledge the
hard work that each is achieving. Also, remember to thank siblings for watching or helping out their brothers and
sisters. It is also important that spouses try to spend some time alone. Again, the quantity of time is not as important as
the quality. This may include watching television together when the children are asleep, going out to dinner, or meeting
for lunch when the children are in school.
Families may also want to occasionally engage in activities without the individual with autism. This may include mom,
dad and the siblings going to the movies together. Often families feel guilty not including the individual with autism, but
everyone deserves to enjoy time together that is not threatened by the burdens of autism.
Meet Other Families with an Autistic Children
It gives us comfort to know that we are not the only ones experiencing a stressful situation. In addition, one can get the
most useful advice from others facing similar challenges and using similar services and supports. Support groups for
parents, siblings and grandparents are available through educational programs, parent resource centers, local Autism
Society of America chapters and Developmental Disabilities Offices. In addition, there are now online supports available
for family members.
Helpful Strategies
• Set realistic goals and appropriate responsibility.
• Break large tasks into small ones.
• Confide in someone instead of being alone and reserved.
• Participate in activities that may make you feel better like exercise or a movie.
• Expect your mood to improve gradually.
• Postpone important decisions until the stress has subsided.
• Accept help from your spouse, family and friends.
| ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2004 Bright Tots® Inc. - Educational Toys & Resource Guide to Child Development - All rights reserved. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
| Autism and Parenting Stress |
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