title: Families of Adolescents with Autism: Facing the Future.
abstract: The purpose of this report, drawn from a larger study, was to investigate family adaptation in families of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and to determine whether family adaptation is influenced by: daily stressors, uncertainty regarding the adolescent's disability, and use of coping strategies on the family's adaptation process. Selection of variables was guided by McCubbin's Family Resilience Model. A total of 115 family members, all members of Interactive Autism Network, participated and completed the study using web-based technology. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed the independent variables, except use of coping strategies, had a statistically significant relationship with family adaptation. Because few studies have focused on this population, the findings may assist families and health care professionals during this important family life developmental milestone.
authors.affiliation: The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. Electronic address: obriens@cua.edu.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D060305:Transition to Adult Care / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents; Autism spectrum disorder; Coping; Family adaptation; Family functioning; Mental health