Fostering Resilience among Couples Coparenting a Young Child with Autism: An Evaluation of Together We Are Stronger |
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| Authors: | Linda M. Raffaele Mendez Karen Berkman Gary Yu Hin Lam Charisse Dawkins |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey, USA;2. raffaelemend@fdu.edu;4. Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA;5. Educational and Psychological Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA;6. Child and Family Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA |
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| Abstract: | AbstractThe purpose of this study was to evaluate a 4-week caregiver training program designed to promote resilience among couples raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Seven couples with a child between the ages of 3 and 9 completed a group-based training focused on values, communication, coparenting, and managing stress. Pre-post assessment of parenting stress, dyadic satisfaction, coparenting, life satisfaction, and hope showed that although parenting stress did not decrease, significant increases were observed in dyadic cohesion, coparenting, and hope. Implications for the development of couple-focused interventions to promote resilience among parents raising a child with ASD are discussed. |
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| Keywords: | Marital satisfaction multi-family training parenting stress parent training special needs |
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