Predictors of Caregiver Strain for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Jessica Bradshaw, Scott Gillespie, Courtney McCracken and 12 others
PMID 33151499WHAT IT FOUND
Different child behaviors predict different types of parent strain in autism.
Disruptive behaviors like irritability and hyperactivity predict strain on daily routines and work. Core autism symptoms like poor communication predict parents' internal sadness and worry. Oppositional defiance predicts anger and resentment.
Key findings
01Objective strain, which affects daily routines and work, was uniquely predicted by child irritability, hyperactivity, and ADHD symptoms.
02Subjective internalized strain, involving sadness and worry, was uniquely predicted by poor communication skills, social withdrawal, anxiety, and irritability.
03Subjective externalized strain, involving anger and resentment, was uniquely predicted by hyperactivity and oppositional defiant disorder symptoms.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was drawn from children already seeking treatment, so findings may not apply to families not involved in clinical care. The study did not assess parents' own mental health history, so it is unclear if parental depression or anxiety influenced their reports of strain. The data was cross-sectional, showing associations between child behaviors and parent strain but not proving that one causes the other.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that reducing a child's disruptive behavior will automatically alleviate all forms of parent distress. The study shows that parents' internal feelings of sadness and worry are linked to core autism features like communication deficits, which may require different therapeutic approaches than those used for behavior management.