Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T13:07:19.401Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Life Satisfaction of Neurotypical Women in Intimate Relationship with an Asperger's Syndrome Partner: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2012

Jennifer S. Bostock-Ling ,
Steven R. Cumming  and
Anita Bundy
Jennifer S. Bostock-Ling*
Affiliation:
Global Populations and Health Systems Research Group, University of Sydney, Australia
Steven R. Cumming
Affiliation:
Global Populations and Health Systems Research Group, University of Sydney, Australia
Anita Bundy
Affiliation:
Global Populations and Health Systems Research Group, University of Sydney, Australia
*
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Jennifer S. Bostock-Ling, PO Box 590, Sandgate QLD 4017, Australia. Email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

This systematic review explores the psychosocial wellbeing of neurotypical (NT) women in intimate relationship with persons with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), and intervention models for such relationships. Over 20 pertinent scholarly databases were searched in April 2011. The initial search yielded 1,736 unique items. Articles were eligible if they were a peer-reviewed journal article or a peer-reviewed thesis investigating adult couple relationships where only one partner had AS. Ten studies were agreed by both reviewers to have met these final inclusion criteria. Utilising the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines the body of evidence comprising the final 10 studies was assessed to be of an overall grade D or ‘weak’. None of the studies included for final analyses were intervention studies.

Keywords

life satisfactionneurotypical womenAsperger's Syndromepartnerrelationship
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 3 , December 2012 , pp. 95 - 105
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 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. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV (4th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.Google Scholar
American Psychiatric Association. (2010, 2012). American Psychiatric Association DSM-5 development. Retrieved February 23, 2012, from http://www.dsm5.orgGoogle Scholar
American Psychiatric Association. (2012, January 20, 2012). News release. Retrieved from http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/12–03%20Autism%20Spectrum%20Disorders%20-%20DSM5.pdfGoogle Scholar
Aston, M. (2001). The other half of asperger syndrome (1st ed.). London: The National Autistic Society.Google Scholar
Aston, M. (2003). Asperger syndrome in the counselling room. Counselling & Psychotherapy Journal, 14 (5), 10–12.Google Scholar
Aston, M. (2009). The Asperger couple's workbook: Practical advice and activities for couples and counsellors. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Attwood, T. (1998). Asperger's syndrome: A guide for parents and professionals (1st ed.): London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Attwood, T. (2006). Asperger's syndrome. Tizard Learning Disability Review, 11 (4), 3–11.Google Scholar
Attwood, T. (2007). The complete guide to Asperger's syndrome (1st ed.). London: Jessica Kingsley Publications.Google Scholar
Attwood, T., & Garnett, M. (2010). The diagnosis and treatment of ASD by psychologists [DVD-Rom]. Melbourne, Australia: The Australian Psychological Society.Google Scholar
Bentley, K. (2007). Alone together. London: Jessica Kinsgley Publishers.Google Scholar
Bliss, E., & Edmonds, G. (2008). A self-determined future with asperger syndrome Solution focused approaches. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Bolte, S., & Bosch, G. (2004). Bosch's cases: A 40-years follow-up of patients with infantile autism and asperger syndrome. German Journal of Psychiatry, 7, 10–13.Google Scholar
Boychuk Duchscher, J.E., & Morgan, D. (2004). Grounded theory: Reflections on the emergence vs. forcing debate. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 48 (6), 605–612. doi:10.1111/j.1365–2648.2004.03249.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Charman, D., & Barkham, M (2005). Psychological treatments: Evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence. InPsych, December.Google Scholar
Corfman, E. (Ed.). (1979). Families today (Vols. 1 and 2). Washington, DC: US Government Printing.Google Scholar
Derogatis, L. (1977). The SCL-90 manual: Administration, scoring, and procedures manual for the for the SCL-90. Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Clinical Psychometrics Research Unit.Google Scholar
Ebert, R.R. (1986). Stress and social support in the lives of mothers of handicapped and special needs children. Dissertation Abstracts International, 46 (12-B, Pt 1), 4451.Google Scholar
Eisenberg, L. (1957). The fathers of autistic children. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 27, 715–724.Google Scholar
Frith, U. (2004). Emanual Miller lecture: Confusions and controversies about asperger syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45, 4.Google Scholar
Frombonne, E. (2008). Is autism getting commoner? British Journal of Psychiatry, 193, 59.Google Scholar
Garcia, V. (2010). Acting with violence in a couple: A sign of dismantling (breaking up) or dementalization (breaking down)? Le Divan Familial, 25, 157–171.Google Scholar
Ghaziuddin, M. (1992). Brief report: A comparison of the diagnostic criteria for asperger syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 22 (4), 643–649.Google Scholar
Ghaziuddin, M. (1997). Autism in Down's syndrome: Family history correlates. J Intellect Disabil Res, 41 (1), 87–91.Google Scholar
Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Group.Google Scholar
Griffiths, J. (2008). Asperger meets girl: Happy endings for Asperger boys. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Hadcroft, W. (2005). The feeling's unmutual: Growing up with Asperger's syndrome (undiagnosed). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Hartley, S., & Sikora, D. (2009). Which DSM-IV-TR criteria best differentiate high-functioning autism spectrum disorder from ADHD and anxiety disorders in older children? Autism, 13 (5), 485–509.Google Scholar
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 511–524.Google Scholar
Hènault, I. (2006). Asperger's syndrome and sexuality From adolescence through adulthood (1st ed.). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Hendrickx, S. (2008). Love, sex & long-term relationships: What people with Asperger syndrome really really want. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Herron, E. S. (1985). Coping and marital adjustment in families of autistic children: effects of selected child and family variables. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Missouri). Retrieved from http://ezproxy.library.usyd.edu.au/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/303385121?accountid=14757Google Scholar
Hoekstra, R.A., Vinkhuyzen, A.A.E., Der Sluis, S.V., & Posthuma, D. (2010). Disentangling genetic and assortative mating effects on autistic traits: An extended twin family study in adults. Behavior Genetics, 40 (6), 796–797.Google Scholar
Jackson, Professor Henry (2005). A description and case for evidence-based praxis in psychology. InPsych, December.Google Scholar
Jacobs, B. (2006). Loving Mr Spock: Understanding the aloof lover: Could it be Asperger's syndrome? London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Jessica Kingsley. (2012). Retrieved 23 February, 2012, from http://www.jkp.com/Google Scholar
Kim, Y.S., Leventhal, B., Koh, Y.-J., Fombonne, E., Laska, E., Lim, E.-C., . . . Grinker, R. (2011). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in a total population sample. American Journal of Psychiatry, 38, 1611–1624. doi: 10.1007/s10803-008-0541-2Google Scholar
Kosecka, A. (1999). Intrafamily relationships in the perception of siblings of autistic children. Psychologia Wychowawcza, 42 (1), 41–50.Google Scholar
Kubo, A. (1986). Self-help groups. Parents as members of a therapist team: A partnership between parents and other team members of ‘Shingonkai’. Kangogaku Zasshi, 50 (12), 1398–1403.Google Scholar
Lau, W., & Peterson, C. C. (2011). Adults and children with Asperger syndrome: Exploring adult attachment style, marital satisfaction and satisfaction with parenthood. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5 (1), 392–399. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2010.06.001Google Scholar
Lawson, W. (2005). Sex, sexuality and the autism spectrum (1st ed.). London: Jessica Kingsley Publisher.Google Scholar
Lawson, W. (2008). Concepts of normality The autistic and typical spectrum. London: Jesssica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Lieberman, L.A. (1995). There's no time for us as a couple: Finding the balance when your child has autism! Paper presented at the 1995 National Autism Conference, Adelaide, Australia.Google Scholar
Lord, C., Petkova, E., Hus, V., Gan, W., Lu, F., Martin, D., . . . Risi, S. (2011). A multisite study of the clinical diagnosis of different autism spectrum disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 69, 306–313. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiary.2011.148Google Scholar
Lucas, P. (2001). John Howard and Asperger's syndrome: Psychopathology and philanthropy. History of Psychiatry, 12, 73–101. doi:10.1177/0957154×0101204504Google Scholar
Macintosh, K., & Dissanayake, C. (2004). Annotation: The similarities and differences between autistic disorder and Asperger's disorder: A review of the empirical evidence. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45 (3), 421–434.Google Scholar
Mickelson, K., & Shaver, P. (1997). Adult attachment in a nationally representative sample. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 1092–1106.Google Scholar
National Health and Medical Research Centre (NHMRC). (2008). NHMRC additional levels of evidence and grades for recommendations for developers of guidelines: Pilot program 2005–2007. Canberra, Australia: Author.Google Scholar
National Health and Medical Research Centre (NHMRC). (2012). NHMRC submission to the Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research in Australia 2012. Canberra, Australia: Author. Retrieved from http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/filesnhmrc/file/research/nhmrc.submission.mckeon.120417.pdfGoogle Scholar
Olsson, M.B. (2004). Parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Dissertation Abstracts International. Section C: Worldwide, 65 (3), 846–846.Google Scholar
Parker-Rosenbaum, P. (2006). Representations of ‘self’ and ‘other’ among individuals with autistic spectrum disorders and their relationship partners. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 67 (1–B), 555.Google Scholar
Pisula, Ewa. (2003). Parents of children with autism — Review of current research. Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 5 (4), 51–63.Google Scholar
Pollmann, M.M.H., Finkenauer, C., & Begeer, S. (2010). Mediators of the link between autistic traits and relationship satisfaction in a non-clinical sample. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40 (4), 470–478.Google Scholar
Renty, J., & Roeyers, H. (2007). Individual and marital adaptation in men with autism spectrum disorder and their spouses: The role of social support and coping strategies. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 37 (7), 1247–1255.Google Scholar
Ritvo, E.R., Brothers, A.M., Freeman, B., & Pingree, C. (1988). Eleven possibly autistic parents. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 18 (1), 139–143.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rzepka, G. (1991). Families of autistic children: An assessment of stress, coping, systemic functioning and family satisfaction. (Doctoral dissertation, Wayne State University). Retrieved from http://ezproxy.library.usyd.edu.au/login?url= http://search.proquest.com/?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/303960872?accountid=14757 ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) database.Google Scholar
Sanders, J.L. (1994). Stress and adjustment in families with an autistic or down syndrome member. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 54 (12–B), 6470.Google Scholar
Slater-Walker, G., & Slater-Walker, C. (2002). An Asperger marriage. London: Jessica Kingsley Publisher.Google Scholar
Spanier, G B. (1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 38, 15–28.Google Scholar
Stanford, A. (2003). Asperger syndrome and long-term relationships (1st ed.). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Takatomi, T., Suzuki, K., Dendo, H., & Watanabe, T. (1974). Families of autistic children. Journal of Mental Health, 48 (22), 95–112.Google Scholar
The Australian Psychological Society Ltd. (2010). Evidence-based psychological interventions in the treatment of dental disorders: A literature review (3rd ed.). Melbourne, Australia: Author.Google Scholar
Thomas, N. (2008). Medicare and severe and enduring mental health problems. InPsych, June.Google Scholar
Thompson, B. (2008). Counselling for Asperger couples. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Tunali, B. (1989). Stress and coping in families of autistic children: An alternative approach. Dissertation Abstracts International, 50 (2–B), 768.Google Scholar
Vaughn, M. (2010). Symptoms of Asperger's disorder predict dyadic relationship expectations for same-sex friends, cross-sex friends, and romantic partners. ProQuest, Ann Arbor MI. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.library.usyd.edu.au/login?url= http://search.proquest.com/?url= http://search.proquest.com/docview/818807410?accountid=14757 Sociological Abstracts database.Google Scholar
Voils, C.I., & Maciejewski, L. (2011). Challenges and opportunities in comparative effectiveness research. Comparative Effectiveness Research, 1, 39–31. doi:10.2147/CER.S20315Google Scholar
Wazana, A., Bresnahan, M., & Kline, J. (2007). The autism epidemic: Fact or artifact? Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 46 (6), 721–730. doi:10.1097/chi.0b0 1 3e31804a7f3bGoogle Scholar
Weston, L. (2010). Connecting with your Asperger partner: Negotiating the maze of intimacy. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Willey, L. (1999). Pretending to be normal: Living with Asperger's syndrome (1st ed.). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Witwer, A., & Lecavalier, L. (2008). Examining the validity of autism spectrum disorder subtypes. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 1611–1624.Google Scholar
Wolff, S. (1996). The first account of the syndrome asperger described? [Die schizoiden Psychopathien im Kindesalter]. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 5, 119–132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
World Health Organization. (1992a). Disorders of psychological development. In International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems (10th rev., 1st ed.). Geneva: Author.Google Scholar
World Health Organization. (1992b). The ICD-10 Classification of mental and behavioural disorders: Clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines (Vol. 1, p. 203). Geneva: Author. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/en/bluebook.pdfGoogle Scholar