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Stability and change in resolution of diagnosis among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: Child and parental contributions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2015

Nurit Yirmiya ,
Ifat Seidman ,
Nina Koren-Karie ,
David Oppenheim  and
Smadar Dolev
Nurit Yirmiya*
Affiliation:
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Ifat Seidman
Affiliation:
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Nina Koren-Karie
Affiliation:
University of Haifa
David Oppenheim
Affiliation:
University of Haifa
Smadar Dolev
Affiliation:
Oranim Academic College of Education
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Nurit Yirmiya, Department of Psychology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem 91905, Israel. E-mail: [email protected].
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Abstract

The contribution of change over time in parent and child characteristics to parents’ resolution of child's diagnosis was examined among 78 mothers and fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Children's characteristics (e.g., mental age and severity of symptoms), parental characteristics (e.g., attachment-related anxiety and stress level), and parents’ resolution of their child's diagnosis (resolved vs. unresolved) were examined at Time 1, and reassessed 3 years later at Time 2. Results indicated a deferential contribution of change in parent and child characteristics among mothers and fathers. An increase in child symptom severity and in maternal attachment-related anxiety, as well as longer durations of time since receiving the diagnosis, significantly predicted maternal resolved status at Time 2. Conversely, none of the changes in children's or paternal characteristics predicted paternal resolved status at Time 2. Results are discussed in relation to child and parental contributions to resolution, the differences in the adjustment and well-being of mothers and fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder, parental growth following receiving the diagnosis, and the need for intervention components specific to parental resolution and attachment-related anxiety.

Type
Special Section Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 27 , Issue 4pt1 , November 2015 , pp. 1045 - 1057
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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