Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T20:19:14.511Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Coping Strategies and Perceived Coping Effectiveness for Social Stressors among Children with HFASDs: A Brief Report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2012

Gloria K. Lee ,
Marcus L. Thomeer ,
Christopher Lopata ,
Audrey L. Schiavo ,
Audrey M. Smerbeck ,
Martin A. Volker ,
Rachael A. Smith  and
Joshua E. Mirwis
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This brief report investigated coping strategies and their perceived effectiveness in response to a social stressor for 7–12 year olds with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (HFASDs). Ninety-eight participants completed a self-report coping scale in response to a self-identified socially stressful situation. Responses yielded three categories of use and perceived effectiveness: (1) strategies used frequently and viewed as effective, (2) strategies not used frequently and not perceived as effective, and (3) strategies used frequently but not perceived as effective. Respondents reported high frequency use and high perceived effectiveness of six strategies that are generally considered as positive/engagement oriented coping. They also indicated low frequency use and low perceived effectiveness of five strategies broadly regarded as negative and avoidant/disengagement coping. The last cluster of four strategies, identified as frequently used but not effective, consisted of strategies less clearly categorised as positive/engaged vs. negative/disengaged. Implications for future research and clinical considerations are proposed.

Keywords

copingeffectivenesssocial stressorshigh-functioning autism spectrum disorders
Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 37 , Issue 3 , September 2012 , pp. 108 - 114
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.Google Scholar
Band, E.B., & Weisz, J.R. (1988). How to feel better when it feels bad: Children's perspectives on coping with everyday stress. Developmental Psychology, 24, 247–253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campbell, T.A. (1995). Coping and perceived control in older children and young adolescents during three stages of a stressful event. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Binghamton University, New York.Google Scholar
Cheng, S.T., & Chan, A.C.M. (2003). Factorial structure of the Kidcope in Hong Kong adolescents. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 164 (3), 261–266.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Compas, B.E. (1987). Stress and life during childhood and adolescence. Clinical Psychology Review, 7, 275–302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Compas, B.E., Connor, J.K., Saltzman, H., Thomsen, A.H., & Wadsworth, M. (1999). Getting specific about coping: Effortful and involuntary responses to stress in development. In Lewis, M. & Ramsey, D. (Eds.), Soothing and stress (pp. 229–256). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Compas, B.E., Connor-Smith, J.K., Saltzman, H., Thomsen, A.H., & Wadsworth, M.E. (2001). Coping with stress during childhood and adolescence: Problems, progress, and potential in theory and research. Psychological Bulletin, 127 (1), 87–127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Compas, B.E., Malcarne, V.L., & Banez, G.A. (1988). Coping with stressful events in older children and young adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56 (3), 405–411.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Craig, J., & Baron-Cohen, S. (1999). Creativity and imagination in autism and Asperger syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 29 (4), 319–326.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Donaldson, D., Prinstein, M.J., Danovsky, M., & Spirito, A. (2000). Patterns of children's coping with life stress: Implications for clinicians. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 70 (3), 351–359.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dubow, E.F., & Tisak, J. (1989). The relation between stressful life events and adjustment in elementary school children: The role of social support and social problem-solving skills. Child Development, 60, 1412–1423.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Eisenberg, N., Fabes, R.A., & Guthrie, I.K. (1997). Coping with stress: The roles of regulation and development. In Wolchik, S.A. & Sandler, I.N. (Eds.), Handbook of children's coping: Linking theory and intervention. New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
Groden, J., Baron, M.G., & Groden, G. (2006). Assessment and coping strategies. In Baron, M.G., Groden, J., Groden, G. & Lipsitt, L.P. (Eds.), Stress and coping in autism (pp. 15–41). New York: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenworthy, L., Case, L., Harms, M.B., Martin, A., & Wallace, G.L. (2010). Adaptive behaviour ratings correlate with symptomatology and IQ among individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 416–423.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Klin, A., McPartland, J., & Volkmar, F.R. (2005). Asperger syndrome. In Volkmar, F.R., Paul, R., Klin, A., & Cohen, D. (Eds.), Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders, Vol. 1 (3rd ed., pp. 88–125). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klin, A., & Volkmar, F.R. (2000). Treatment and intervention guidelines for individuals with Aspergers syndrome. In Klin, A., Volkmar, F.R., & Sparrow, S.S. (Eds.), Asperger syndrome (pp. 340–366). New York: Guilford.Google ScholarPubMed
Lopata, C., Fox, J.D., Thomeer, M.L., Smith, R.A., Volker, M.A., Kessel, C.M., McDonald, C.A., & Lee, G.K. (in press). ABAS-II ratings and correlates of adaptive behavior in children with HFASDs. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities.Google Scholar
Lopata, C., Thomeer, M.L., Volker, M.A., Nida, R.E., & Lee, G.K. (2008). Effectiveness of a manualized summer social treatment program for high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38 (5), 890–904.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marans, W.D., Rubin, E., & Laurent, A. (2005). Addressing social communication skills in individuals with high-functioning autism and Asperger syndrome: Critical priorities in educational programming. In Voklmar, F.R., Paul, R., Klin, A., & Cohen, D. (Eds.), Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders (3rd ed.) (pp. 977–1002). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pereda, N., Forns, M., Kirchner, T., & Munoz, D. (2009). Use of the Kidcope to identify socio-economically diverse Spanish school-age children's streesors and coping strategies. Child: Care, Health and Development, 35, 841–850.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pincus, D.B., & Friedman, A.G. (2004). Improving children's coping with everyday stress: Transporting treatment interventions to the school setting. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 7 (4), 223–240.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Portway, S.M., & Johnson, B. (2005). Do you know I have Asperger's syndrome? Risks of a non-obvious disability. Health, Risk and Society, 7 (1), 73–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roecker, C.E., Dubow, E.F., & Donaldson, D. L. (1996). Cross-situational patterns in children's coping with observed interpersonal conflict. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 25, 288–299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rogers, S.J. (2000). Interventions that facilitate socialization in children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30 (5), 399–409.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rudolph, K.D., Denning, M.D., & Weisz, J.R. (1995). Determinants and consequences of children's coping in the medical setting: Conceptualization, review, and critique. Psychological Bulletin, 118, 328–357.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rutter, M. (1994). Stress research: Accomplishments and the tasks ahead. In Haggerty, R.J., Sherrod, L.R., Garmezy, N., & Rutter, M. (Eds.), Stress, risk, and resilience in children and adolescents: Processes, mechanisms, and interventions (pp. 354–385). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Saulnier, C.A., & Klin, A. (2007). Brief report: Social and communication abilities and disabilities in higher-functioning individuals with autism and Asperger syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 788–793.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spirito, A. (1996). Commentary: Pitfalls in the use of brief screening measures of coping. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 21 (4), 573–575.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spirito, A., Stark, L.J., Grace, N., & Stamoulis, D. (1991). Common problems and coping strategies reported in childhood and early adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 20, 531–544.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spirito, A., Stark, L., J., & Williams, C.A. (1988). Development of a brief checklist to assess coping in pediatric patients. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 13, 555–574.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spivack, G., & Shure, M.B. (1982). The cognition of social adjustment: Interpersonal cognitive problem-solving thinking. In Lahey, B.B. & Kazdin, A.E. (Eds.), Advances in clinical child psychology, Vol. 5 (pp. 323–372). New York: Plenum.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stark, L.J., Spirito, A., & Stamoulis, D. (1991). Common problems and coping strategies reported by young children. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Behavior Therapy, New York.Google Scholar
Wallander, J.L., Varni, J.W., Babani, L., Banis, T.H., & Wilcox, K.T. (1989). Children with chronic physical disorders: Maternal reports of their psychological adjustment, Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 13, 197–212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weisz, J.R., McCabe, M., & Dennig, M.D. (1994). Primary and secondary control among children undergoing medical procedures: Adjustment as a function of coping style. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62 (2), 324–332 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wertlieb, D., Weigel, C., & Feldstein, M. (1987). Measuring children's coping. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 548–560.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed