The unfortunate truth is that parents of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often report high levels of stress and mental health problems associated with the challenges of caring for individuals with complex needs (Weiss, Wingsiong, Lunsky, 2014). Murphy and Verden (2012) state succinctly that “The stress involved in parenting can be overwhelming; the stress involved in parenting a child with autism can be consuming.” It may be true that parents more often than not possess deep, innate feelings of love/passion/energy for their children. However, this alone, with no supplemental support, is not always enough to address the underlying risk factors associated with the challenges of caring for individuals with neurodevelopmental considerations.
Image description: A woman sits on a blue couch with legs and arms crossed holding her closed fist over her mouth with eyes open.
Image retrieved from: https://www.centralpennparent.com/2018/8-tips-for-managing-stress-for-parents-of-special-needs-children/
Self-efficacy can be generally defined as one’s personal belief in one’s capabilities. A systematic review of parent interventions and self-efficacy by Hohlfeld, Harty, and Engel (2018) showed that parent training programs were effective in increasing parental self-efficacy in parents of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. This increase in self-efficacy not only directly correlates to more positive outcomes in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, but also correlates with a decrease in stress, as well as the decrease in the development of mental health issues. This is particulate noteworthy because by addressing the issue of low self-efficacy, or the feelings of “I just can’t do this”, or “This is too much for me to handle”, in parents of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, we address “2 birds with 1 stone.” Family members are often the primary, unpaid, and overburdened source of support for person’s with disabilities (Grossman, Magaña, 2016). By focusing directly on managing and treating the parents, we accomplish providing increased outcomes for both the parents as well as their children. This also ensures that parents are not overlooked for possible stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health considerations that can often develop associated with raising children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Image description: A family of six including four children and two parents pose together for a picture all smiling and appearing happy.
Image retrieved from: https://delawarefamilytofamily.wordpress.com/tag/parent-to-parent/
It is obvious to me that, while we may have made great strides in providing support for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities in the 21st century, we must now also strive to provide parallel support for their families as well if we are to offer the most holistic support possible for individuals with neurodevelopmental considerations. Through this most holistic support, we will undoubtably continue to see subsequent increased positive outcomes in families that include individuals with neurodevelopmental considerations.
References
Grossman, B. R., & Magaña, S. (2016). Introduction to the special issue: Family Support of Persons with Disabilities Across the Life Course. Journal of Family Social Work, 19(4), 237-251. doi:10.1080/10522158.2016.1234272
Hohlfeld, A. S., Harty, M., & Engel, M. E. (2018). Parents of children with disabilities: A systematic review of parenting interventions and self-efficacy. African Journal of Disability, 7. doi:10.4102/ajod.v7i0.437
Murphy, C. M., & Verden, C. E. (2012). Supporting Families of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 15(1), 16-25. doi:10.1177/1098300712436845
Parent to Parent. (2013, September 23). Retrieved September 26, 2020, from https://delawarefamilytofamily.wordpress.com/tag/parent-to-parent/
Weaver, L. (2018, June 19). 8 Tips for managing stress for parents of special needs children. Retrieved September 27, 2020, from https://www.centralpennparent.com/2018/8-tips-for-managing-stress-for-parents-of-special-needs-children/
Weiss, J. A., Wingsiong, A., & Lunsky, Y. (2013). Defining crisis in families of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Autism, 18(8), 985-995. doi:10.1177/1362361313508024
