Positive Experiences of Mothers and Fathers of Children with Autism |
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| Authors: | Adam D Kayfitz Marcia N Gragg R Robert Orr |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Psychology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada;2. Department of Psychology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada, and Summit Centre for Preschool Children with Autism, Windsor, ON, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Background The present study examined the positive experiences of parents raising school‐aged children with autism within the context of parenting stress. Materials and Methods Participants included 23 mother/father pairs raising children with autism (ages 5 to 11 years, M = 7.39). Parents completed measures of parenting stress and positive experiences of raising their children. Results Consistent with previous research in a pre‐school aged population of children with autism, mothers reported significantly more positive experiences than did fathers. Mothers’ and fathers’ reports of their positive experiences were negatively related to their reports of parenting stress. Fathers’, but not mothers’, positive experiences were negatively related to their partners’ reports of parenting stress. Conclusion Findings are discussed within a positive psychology framework suggesting that a focus on positive experiences may buffer against negative well‐being. |
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| Keywords: | autism fathers mothers positive experiences stress |
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