Parenting children with autism spectrum disorders: a crucible for couple relationships

ABSTRACT As the incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) continues to rise, there is a growing need to understand how ASDs impact family life. This qualitative study explored the ways in which parenting a child with ASD impacts marriages. Using modified grounded theory, nine couples and one wif...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inChild & family social work Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 406 - 415
Main Authors Hock, Robert M., Timm, Tina M., Ramisch, Julie L.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2012
Subjects
Autism
autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Childrearing Practices
Children
Children & youth
Couples
Disabled children
Family Life
Family relations
Intervention
Intimacy
Marriage
Parenting
Parents
Parents & parenting
Qualitative analysis
Qualitative research
relationship
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Summary:ABSTRACT As the incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) continues to rise, there is a growing need to understand how ASDs impact family life. This qualitative study explored the ways in which parenting a child with ASD impacts marriages. Using modified grounded theory, nine couples and one wife (n= 19) were interviewed. The dominant finding that emerged is that parenting a child with ASD acts as a crucible for couple relationships, exerting extraordinary pressure on partners that forces qualitative adaptations in their relationship. Two relationship phases emerged from the analysis: tag team and deeper intimacy and commitment. The resulting theoretical model can help clinicians tailor assessment and intervention for couples who are parenting a child with ASD.
Bibliography:ark:/67375/WNG-0T1P14R1-Z
ArticleID:CFS794
istex:A0482FB7B899766B1AF7FB36683E55B722806D03
ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 23
ObjectType-Article-1
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ISSN:1356-7500
1365-2206
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2206.2011.00794.x