title: The Relationship Between Optimism, Coping, and Depressive Symptoms in Hispanic Mothers and Fathers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: This study examined gender differences in the relationship between dispositional optimism, coping, and depressive symptoms of Hispanic mothers (n = 46) and fathers (n = 43) of children with autism spectrum disorder. Coping was hypothesized to mediate the relationship between optimism and depressive symptoms. The results revealed that mothers reported greater depressive symptoms and greater use of positive and support coping than fathers; however, both mothers and fathers reported similar levels of optimism and use of avoidant coping. In addition, positive and avoidant coping strategies mediated the association between optimism and depressive symptoms for both mothers and fathers. Clinical implications for this study include interventions for improving optimistic outlooks as well as interventions that improve parents' coping skills and therefore reduce negative outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, TCU Box 298920, Fort Worth, TX, 76129, USA.
authors.forename: Kelcie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, TCU Box 298920, Fort Worth, TX, 76129, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Timmons
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, TCU Box 298920, Fort Worth, TX, 76129, USA.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pruitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Hoa Lam
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alessandri
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, TCU Box 298920, Fort Worth, TX, 76129, USA. naomi.ekas@tcu.edu.
authors.forename: Naomi V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Ekas
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude / Q000208:ethnology; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D000067656:Optimism / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Coping; Fathers; Hispanic; Mothers; Optimism; Psychological well-being