Work

Caregiver Strain and Sensory Features in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Disabilities

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Caring for children with disabilities contributes to increased levels of parent stress or caregiver strain. However, the potential relationship of sensory features to strain among caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DD) is unknown. Sensory features include overreactions, underreactions, and unusual interests in sensations, which may negatively impact family functioning. This descriptive study confirmed three caregiver strain types (i.e., objective, subjective internalized, subjective externalized) and explored differences among ASD (n = 71) and DD (n = 36) groups, with the ASD group reporting higher levels. Furthermore, this study explored the contribution of sensory features to caregiver strain, finding differential contributions to strain in the ASD group and covariate contributions (i.e., child cognition, mother's education) in the DD group.

Source: American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

DOI: 10.1352/1944-7558-120.1.32

Authors: Anne V. Kirby, Tamira J. White, Grace T. Baranek

Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Language: English

Topic: Family and Disability Support Research

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development