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Cited by 566Family and Disability Support ResearchAutism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGrief, Bereavement, and Mental Health

Coping strategies in mothers and fathers of preschool and school-age children with autism

Hastings, Richard P., Kovshoff, Hanna, Brown, Tony, Ward, Nicholas J., Espinosa, Francesca Degli, Remington, Bob·2005·Autism
DOI 10.1177/1362361305056078
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Abstract

Despite the theoretical and demonstrated empirical significance of parental coping strategies for the wellbeing of families of children with disabilities, relatively little research has focused explicitly on coping in mothers and fathers of children with autism. In the present study, 89 parents of preschool children and 46 parents of school-age children completed a measure of the strategies they used to cope with the stresses of raising their child with autism. Factor analysis revealed four reliable coping dimensions: active avoidance coping, problem-focused coping, positive coping, and religious/denial coping. Further data analysis suggested gender differences on the first two of these dimensions but no reliable evidence that parental coping varied with the age of the child with autism. Associations were also found between coping strategies and parental stress and mental health. Practical implications are considered including reducing reliance on avoidance coping and increasing the use of positive coping strategies.

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Crossref · 10.1177/1362361305056078

Cites

48 of 48 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Avoidance coping is associated with increased stress and mental health problems over time.

    “Avoidance coping, although sometimes adaptive in the short term, is associated with increased stress and mental health problems over time (Hastings et al., 2005).”

    From Parent, child, and family outcomes following Acceptance And Commitment Therapy for parents of autistic children: A randomized controlled trial (2024) · cites this paper as Hastings et al., 2005

    The Results (p. 9) report that active avoidance coping in mothers and fathers of children with autism was associated with more stress and anxiety and depression symptoms. Those correlations do not establish that problems increased over time, and the cited passages do not support the sentence’s suggestion that avoidance may be adaptive in the short term. (LLM, conf=0.89)

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  • These types of behaviors contribute to parental stress and strain and may amplify the caregiver's burden.

    “These types of behaviors contribute to parental stress and strain [49,50] and may amplify the caregiver’s burden [51].”

    From The effect of acceptance and commitment therapy for improving psychological well‐being in parents of individuals with autism spectrum disorders: A randomized controlled trial (2021) · cites this paper as [51]

    The Introduction (p. 1) says parents of children with autism often report elevated parenting stress, supporting the general stress context. It does not identify the particular behaviors in the citing sentence as contributors to stress or strain, or link them to increased caregiver burden. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. AFFLECK, G. & TENNEN, H. (1996) Constructing Benefits from Adversity: Adaptational Significance and Dispositional Meanings', Journal of Personality 64: 899-922.
  2. ESSEX, E.L., SELTZER, M.M. & KRAUSS, M.W. (1999) 'Differences in Coping Effectiveness and Well-Being among Aging Mothers and Fathers of Adults with Mental Retardation', American Journal on Mental Retardation 104: 545-63.
  3. HASTINGs, R.P. & TAUNT, H.M. (2002) 'Positive Perceptions in Families of Children with Developmental Disabilities', American Journal on Mental Retardation 107: 116-27.
  4. MITCHELL, G. & HASTINGs, R.P. (2001) 'Coping, Burnout, and Emotion in Staff Working in Community Services for People with Challenging Behaviors', American Journal on Mental Retardation 106: 448–59.

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Authors
Hastings, R. P., Kovshoff, H., Brown, T., Ward, N. J., Espinosa, F. D., & Remington, B.
Affiliations
  • Bangor University (GB)
  • University of Southampton (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Autism
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2005-10
Volume
9
Issue
4
Pages
377-391
ISSN
  • 1362-3613 (ISSN-L)
  • 1461-7005
DOI
10.1177/1362361305056078
OpenAlex
W2149879954
Cited by
566
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 30
FWCI
10.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Autism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
Keywords
parental coping strategies, parents of autistic children, parents, gender differences, problem-focused coping, positive coping, religious coping, parental stress, parental mental health, family well-being, child age
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Autistic Disorder, Child, Child, Preschool, Father-Child Relations, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mother-Child Relations, Problem Solving, Religion, Caregivers

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