Stress in parents of children with autism participating in early and intensive behavioral intervention
Abstract
Several studies have shown that parents of children with autism report higher levels of stress than parents of typically developing children or children with other disabilities. Early and intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) has been shown to effectively teach cognitive, adaptive, and social skills to many children with autism, and thus might reduce stress levels for parents whose children receive treatment. However, it also is possible that the intensive nature of this treatment could increase parental stress levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate stress levels of 43 parents prior to and one year into EIBI treatment. Children’s IQs and adaptive functioning also were assessed at intake and again one year into treatment. Results showed that both mothers and fathers reported high parental stress at intake, but that levels of stress for mothers decreased one year into treatment. Fathers’ stress levels did not decrease significantly over the course of the treatment. We found no correlations between intake parental stress and improvements in children’s intellectual or adaptive functioning.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Raising a child with autism involves chronic challenges consistently associated with high levels of psychological distress.
“It has been widely demonstrated that raising a child with autism involves chronic challenges consistently associated with high levels of psychological distress [3,4,5,6].”
Cites
Lord, C., Rutter, M., & Le Couteur, A. (1994) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/bf02172145 · Cited by 9,065 · see citing works
Bayley Scales of Infant Development
(2007) · Sage eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781412952644.n48 · Cited by 4,242 · see citing works
Behavioral treatment and normal educational and intellectual functioning in young autistic children.
Lövaas, O. I. (1987) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-006x.55.1.3 · Cited by 3,288 · see citing works
Behavioral treatment and normal educational and intellectual functioning in young autistic children.
Lovaas, O. I. (1987) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.55.1.3 · Cited by 3,288 · see citing works
Rudd (2006) · doi:10.1002/(issn)1097-4679 · Cited by 2,635 · see citing works
Hayes, S. A., & Watson, S. L. (2013) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-012-1604-y · Cited by 1,847 · see citing works
The impact of behaviour problems on caregiver stress in young people with autism spectrum disorders
Lecavalier, L., Leone, S., & Wiltz, J. (2006) · Journal of Intellectual Disability Research · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00732.x · Cited by 1,163 · see citing works
Intensive Behavioral Treatment for Children With Autism: Four-Year Outcome and Predictors
Sallows, G. O., & Graupner, T. D. (2005) · American Journal on Mental Retardation · doi:10.1352/0895-8017(2005)110[417:ibtfcw]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 788 · see citing works
Meta-Analysis of Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention for Children With Autism
Eldevik, S., Hastings, R. P., Hughes, J. C., Jahr, E., Eikeseth, S., & Cross, S. (2009) · Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology · doi:10.1080/15374410902851739 · Cited by 747 · see citing works
Reichow, B. (2012) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1218-9 · Cited by 584 · see citing works
Factor structure and validity of the parenting stress index-short form.
Haskett, M. E., Ahern, L. S., Ward, C. S., & Allaire, J. C. (2006) · Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology · doi:10.1207/s15374424jccp3502_14 · Cited by 556 · see citing works
Osborne, L. A., McHugh, L., Saunders, J., & Reed, P. (2007) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0497-7 · Cited by 553 · see citing works
Behavioral intervention for young children with autism: A manual for parents and professionals.
Maurice, C., Green, G., & Luce, S. C. (1996) · Pro-Ed eBooks · Cited by 534 · see citing works
Teaching Individuals With Developmental Delays: Basic Intervention Techniques
Lövaas, O. I. (2002) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 508 · see citing works
Parent-mediated early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
Oono, I. P., Honey, E. J., & McConachie, H. (2013) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd009774.pub2 · Cited by 494 · see citing works
Teaching Developmentally Disabled Children: The Me Book
Lövaas, O. I. (1981) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 476 · see citing works
Remington, B., Hastings, R. P., Kovshoff, H., degli Espinosa, F., Jahr, E., Brown, T., Alsford, P., Lemaic, M., & Ward, N. (2007) · American Journal on Mental Retardation · doi:10.1352/0895-8017(2007)112[418:eibiof]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 402 · see citing works
(2020) · doi:10.12788/acp · Cited by 401 · see citing works
Psychological Functioning and Coping Among Mothers of Children With Autism: A Population-Based Study
Montes, G., & Halterman, J. S. (2007) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.2006-2819 · Cited by 380 · see citing works
Determinants of Stress in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Rivard, M., Terroux, A., Parent-Boursier, C., & Mercier, C. (2014) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-013-2028-z · Cited by 368 · see citing works
McEachin, J. J., & Leaf, R. B. (1999) · Cited by 358 · see citing works
Hastings, R. P., & Johnson, E. (2001) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1023/a:1010799320795 · Cited by 356 · see citing works
Assessment of childhood disorders
Mash, E. J., & Barkley, R. A. (1997) · Cited by 354 · see citing works
McStay, R. L., Dissanayake, C., Scheeren, A. M., Koot, H. M., & Begeer, S. (2013) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361313485163 · Cited by 340 · see citing works
Teaching developmentally disabled children: The me book
Kerr, M. M., & Cordisco, L. K. (1982) · Applied Research in Mental Retardation · doi:10.1016/0270-3092(82)90024-8 · Cited by 340 · see citing works
Practitioner review: Stress intervention for parents of children with intellectual disabilities
Hastings, R. P., & Beck, A. (2004) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00357.x · Cited by 324 · cited 2× · see citing works
“The effect size for reduction in maternal stress was small, but comparable to previous findings (Hastings & Beck, 2004).”
BackgroundResultBayley Scales of Infant Development
Salkind, N. J. (2005) · Encyclopedia of Human Development · doi:10.4135/9781412952484.n81 · Cited by 323 · see citing works
Outcome of comprehensive psycho-educational interventions for young children with autism
Eikeseth, S. (2008) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2008.02.003 · Cited by 317 · see citing works
The Murdoch Early Intervention Program After 2 Years
Birnbrauer, J. S., & Leach, D. J. (1993) · Behaviour Change · doi:10.1017/s0813483900005556 · Cited by 283 · see citing works
Zablotsky, B., Bradshaw, C. P., & Stuart, E. A. (2012) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-012-1693-7 · Cited by 262 · see citing works
Making a Difference: Behavioral Intervention for Autism
Maurice, C., Green, G., & Foxx, R. M. (2001) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 254 · see citing works
Autism Parenting Stress Index: Initial Psychometric Evidence
Silva, L. M. T., & Schalock, M. D. (2011) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1274-1 · Cited by 228 · see citing works
Cutler, B. L. (2008) · Encyclopedia of Psychology and Law · doi:10.4135/9781412959537.n213 · Cited by 225 · see citing works
Strauß, K., Vicari, S., Valeri, G., D’Elia, L., Arima, S., & Fava, L. (2011) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.11.008 · Cited by 217 · see citing works
Family Characteristics, Family Training, and the Progress of Young Children with Autism
Robbins, F. R., Dunlap, G., & Plienis, A. J. (1991) · Journal of Early Intervention · doi:10.1177/105381519101500206 · Cited by 166 · see citing works
Depression: its trajectory and correlates in mothers rearing children with intellectual disability
Glidden, L. M., & Schoolcraft, S. A. (2003) · Journal of Intellectual Disability Research · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2788.2003.00487.x · Cited by 143 · see citing works
The measurement of death depression
Templer, D. I., Lavoie, M., Chalgujian, H., & Thomas-Dobson, S. (1990) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/1097-4679(199011)46:6 · Cited by 133 · see citing works
Hayward, D. W., Eikeseth, S., Gale, C. M., & Morgan, S. (2009) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361309340029 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Intensive behavioural intervention for young children with autism: A research-based service model
Hayward, D. W., Gale, C. M., & Eikeseth, S. (2009) · Research in Autism · doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2008.12.002 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Retrospective analysis of Clinical Records in 38 cases of Recovery from Autism
Granpeesheh, D., Tarbox, J., Dixon, D. R., Carr, E., & Herbert, M. R. (2009) · Annals of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/104012370902100402 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
The Efficacy of Intensive Behavioral Intervention for Children with Autism: A Matter of Allegiance?
Klintwall, L., Gillberg, C., Bölte, S., & Fernell, E. (2011) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1223-z · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Eikeseth, S. (2011) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-8065-6_20 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Jingree, T., Finlay, W. M. L., & Antaki, C. (2006) · Journal of Intellectual Disability Research · doi:10.1111/jir.2006.50.issue-3 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Personal Control and the Ecology of Community Living Settings: Beyond Living-Unit Size and Type
Stancliffe, R. J., Abery, B. H., & Smith, J. (2000) · American Journal on Mental Retardation · doi:10.1352/0895-8017(2000)105
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Gould, E. R., Tarbox, J., & Coyne, L. (2018) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2017.06.003 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Hahs, A. D., Dixon, M. R., & Paliliunas, D. (2019) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2018.03.002 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Staff Training in Autism: The One-Eyed Wo/Man…
Dillenburger, K., McKerr, L., Jordan, J.-A., & Keenan, M. (2016) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph13070716 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Alibekova, R., Kai Chan, C., Crape, B., Kadyrzhanuly, K., Gusmanov, A., An, S., Bulekbayeva, S., Akhmetzhanova, Z., Ainabekova, A., Yerubayev, Z., et al. (2022) · Global Mental Health · doi:10.1017/gmh.2022.51 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Marino, F., Failla, C., Chilà, P., Minutoli, R., Puglisi, A., Arnao, A. A., Pignolo, L., Presti, G., Pergolizzi, F., Moderato, P., et al. (2021) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci11070880 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Using the Double ABCX Model to Integrate Services for Families of Children with ASD
Pickard, K. E., & Ingersoll, B. R. (2016) · Journal of Child and Family Studies · doi:10.1007/s10826-016-0605-4 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Prevedini, A., Hirvikoski, T., Holmberg Bergman, T., Berg, B., Miselli, G., Pergolizzi, F., & Moderato, P. (2020) · European Journal of Behavior Analysis · doi:10.1080/15021149.2020.1729023 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Predictors of maternal stress in pre-school and school-aged children with autism
Zheng, L., Grove, R., & Eapen, V. (2017) · Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability · doi:10.3109/13668250.2017.1374931 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Strength-Based Approaches to Working with Families of Children with ASD
Steiner, A., & Gengoux, G. W. (2018) · Autism and child psychopathology series · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-90994-3_10 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Cultural adaptation of ACT to support caregivers of autistic Latino children: A pilot study
Cañón, L. F., Gould, E. R., Sandoz, E. K., Moran, O., & Grimaldi, M. A. (2023) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.03.003 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Titlestad, K. B., & Eldevik, S. (2019) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-019-04185-9 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Tümlü, G. Ü., & Akdoğan, R. (2021) · International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling · doi:10.1007/s10447-021-09453-x · Cited by 10 · see citing works
O’Brien, M. J., Pelzel, K. E., Hendrix, N. M., Schieltz, K. M., Miller, K., Call, N. A., Tsami, L., Lerman, D. C., Berg, W. K., Kopelman, T. G., et al. (2021) · Behavior Modification · doi:10.1177/01454455211018815 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Eikeseth, S. (2017) · Autism and child psychopathology series · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-61738-1_13 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Psychological inflexibility and adherence to the therapy among parents of autistic
Moreno, J. (2020) · Avances en Psicología Latinoamericana · doi:10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/apl/a.7904 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Utjecaj poremećaja iz spektra autizma na obitelj
Kosić, R., Tatić, A. D., Petrić, D., & Kosec, T. (2021) · Medicina Fluminensis · doi:10.21860/medflum2021_371644 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Buils, R. F., Andrés‐Roqueta, C., & Mateu‐Pérez, R. (2023) · International Journal of Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1080/20473869.2023.2272402 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Neurodiversity: A Behavior Analyst’s Perspective
Nicolosi, M., & Dillenburger, K. (2025) · Perspectives on Behavior Science · doi:10.1007/s40614-025-00435-7 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Andreassen, M., Lugo, R. G., Eldevik, S., & Eikeseth, S. (2025) · Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s41252-025-00446-0 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Parental Stress in Families of Children with Autism
Yakniunas, E., & Gusak, N. (2020) · Psychology and Psychosocial Interventions · doi:10.18523/2617-2348.2019.2.67-74 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
DEPRESSION IN PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Nikolić, M., & Bećirović, Z. (2025) · Research in Education and Rehabilitation · doi:10.51558/2744-1555.2025.8.1.132 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
" Το παιδί σας έχει αυτισμό!" Και τώρα...τι γίνεται; Συμβουλευτική γονέων παιδιών με αυτισμό
Λουκοπούλου, Ε., Καραθανάση, Ζ., & Ζέρβα, Π. (2017) · Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο Επιστημών Εκπαίδευσης · doi:10.12681/edusc.976
Stover, K. (2017) · TSpace (University of Toronto)
(2021) · Jordan Journal of Educational Sciences · doi:10.47015/17.4.5
Familles et trouble du spectre de l'autisme
Clément, C., & Ilg, J. (2019) · Dunod eBooks · doi:10.3917/dunod.dergu.2019.01.0332
Behavioral adjustment of siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder
Lukic, J., Brkić–Jovanović, N., Tasic, M., Tamaš, D., & Veselinović, M. (2021) · Medicinski pregled · doi:10.2298/mpns2108249l
Izazovi u skrbi za djecu s poremećajima iz spektra autizma
Čusak, S., Vrdoljak, M., & Leutar, Z. (2024) · Revija za socijalnu politiku · doi:10.3935/rsp.v31i1.23
Parents of Boys with Physical Disabilities: Their Level of Anxiety and Contentment with Life
Khurshid, M., Riaz, H., Waqar, S., & Shahid, A. (2025) · Regional lens. · doi:10.55737/rl.2025.44135
- Authors
- Eikeseth, S., Klintwall, L., Hayward, D., & Gale, C.
- Affiliations
- OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University (NO)
- Corresponding author
- Eikeseth, Svein
- Venue
- European Journal of Behavior Analysis
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2015-01-02
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 112-120
- ISSN
- 1502-1149 (ISSN-L)
- 2377-729X
- OpenAlex
- W1832572285
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2025: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 4.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Behavior Analysis (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
- Keywords
- parental stress, autism spectrum disorder, parents of autistic children, parents, adaptive behavior, intellectual functioning
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
