Perceived self-efficacy in parents of adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Date

2016

Authors

Weiss, Jonathan
Tint, Ami
Paquette-Smith, Melissa
Lunsky, Yona

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Sage Publishing

Abstract

Many parents of adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience difficulty accessing appropriate services for their children, and may report low levels of parent self-efficacy. In an effort to identify the factors that contribute to the difficulties these families face, this study examined the role of demographic, systemic and clinical need variables as they relate to parents’ experience of self-efficacy. Participants included 324 parents of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, 12-25 years of age. Results suggest that parent self-efficacy is related to a number of variables and not simply a child’s clinical situation, including child age, parent immigrant status, barriers to service access, and caregiver burden. Given the crucial role that parents often play in the lives of individuals with ASD across the lifespan, it is important that service providers support the efforts of parents who provide and access care for their children.

Description

Keywords

access to services, autism spectrum disorder, parent self-efficacy, parenting

Citation

Autism, 20(4), 2016, 425-434