title: Cognitive appraisals in high- and low-stress mothers of adolescents with autism.
abstract: The present study examined cognitive appraisals in 8 high-stress and 8 low-stress mothers of autistic adolescents. Subjects' cognitive appraisals, based on videotaped scenes of autistic adolescents engaged in everyday activities, were assessed. High-stress mothers reported more threatening appraisals than did low-stress mothers; low-stress mothers were more likely to reappraise threatening perceptions in benign terms. Furthermore, high-stress mothers reported greater negative emotional reactions to the scenes. Trends toward fewer resources and higher levels of maladaptive behaviors in the autistic adolescents of high-stress mothers were noted. The implications of these findings on stress in the day-to-day lives of mothers with autistic adolescents are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers University.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Fong
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D004519:Education, Special; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*