3Assignment Three Purpose of the study and Research Questions.docx

3
Assignment Three: Purpose of the study and Research Questions
RES 9300

Recently, Autism has become a serious health concern to
parents. According to Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (2018), about one in fifty nine United States
children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder with
one in six children developing developmental disability ranging
from mild disabilities such as speech and language impairments
to serious developmental disabilities, such as intellectual
disabilities, cerebral palsy, and autism (CDC,2018). World
Health Organization (2019) estimates that 1 in 160 children
globally has autism making it one of the most prevalent
diseases. Despite the disease prevalence, most population has
little knowledge about the disease. Many health practitioners
have proposed early care as a means to control the disease
effects.
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this study is to determine whether early
intervention services can help improve the development of
children suffering from autism. This study also aims to explore
the general public awareness and perception about autism
disorder.
Research Questions
(1) How should service delivery for autistic patients be
improved to promote their health? (2) What impact does early
intervention services have on development of children suffering
from autism? (3) How can public knowledge on autism improve
support and care for autistic patients? (4) What effect will early
intervention have on patient’s social skills?
References

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Data & Statistics. Retrieved From
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
World Health Organization. (2019). Autism Spectrum
Disorders. Fact Sheet. Retrieved From
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/autism-
spectrum-disorders
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Assignment Two: Theoretical Perspective and Literature Review
RES 9300
Literature Map
Parenting an Autism Child
(Dependent Variable)
9

Mothers/Father Role
Education
Religious Beliefs
Gender/Age
Financial Resources
Maternal Relationship
Region
Public Awareness
Support
Ethnicity
Independent Variables
Secondary Source I Will Be Using In My Literature Review
Mother/Father Roles
Glynn, K. A. (2015). Predictors of parenting practices in parents
of children with autism spectrum disorder.
Religious Beliefs
Huang, C. Y., Yen, H. C., Tseng, M. H., Tung, L. C., Chen, Y.
D., & Chen, K. L. (2014). Impacts of autistic behaviors,
emotional and behavioral problems on parenting stress in
caregivers of children with autism. Journal of Autism and
Developmental Disorders, 44(6), 1383-1390.
Education

Brezis, R. S., Weisner, T. S., Daley, T. C., Singhal, N., Barua,
M., & Chollera, S. P. (2015). Parenting a child with autism in
India: Narratives before and after a parent–child intervention
program. Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry, 39(2), 277-298.
Financial Resources
Zaidman-Zait, A., Mirenda, P., Duku, E., Vaillancourt, T.,
Smith, I. M., Szatmari, P., & Zwaigenbaum, L. (2016). Impact
of personal and social resources on parenting stress in mothers
of children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism,
1362361316633033.
Maternal Relationship
Weitlauf, A. S., Vehorn, A. C., Taylor, J. L., & Warren, Z. E.
(2014). Relationship satisfaction, parenting stress, and
depression in mothers of children with autism. Autism, 18(2),
194-198.
Age/Gender
McStay, R. L., Dissanayake, C., Scheeren, A., Koot, H. M., &
Begeer, S. (2014). Parenting stress and autism: The role of age,
autism severity, quality of life and problem behaviour of
children and adolescents with autism. Autism, 18(5), 502-510.
Support/Intervention
Cidav, Z., Marcus, S. C., & Mandell, D. S. (2014). Implications
of childhood autism for parental employment and
earnings. Pediatrics, 129(4), 617-623.
Public Awareness
Religious beliefs
Jack, A. I., Friedman, J. P., Boyatzis, R. E., & Taylor, S. N.
(2016). Why do you believe in God? Relationships between
religious belief, analytic thinking, mentalizing and moral
concern. PloS one, 11(3), e0149989.
Region (Whether developing or developed nations)

program. Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry, 39(2), 277-298
Theoretical Framework
The “Double ABCX model” perfectly anchors the study. Within
the frame of family functioning, the model defines the process
of adaptation by considering key risks as well as protective
factors. For better insight, risk factors conditions that may
increase the negative results in families. A good example, in
this case, is wellbeing or maladaptation. On the other hand,
protective factors act to minimize the impact of risk factors on
family outcomes. In other words, risk factors are buffers to
boost the well-being and support to facilitate successful
adaptation. Furthermore the model provides the framework of
the study based on several reasons. First, the model captures the
model progression of stressors, change in coping mechanisms
and how family develops over time. Secondly, the model
accounts for an array of experiences as the events unfold in
families. Although there is limited research in the paradigm of
this model and across child development, this literature review
aims to clarify changes in protective factors as well as
identified risks in which families require an increase in
intervention and support when raising children with an autism
spectrum disorder. Peer-reviewed studies investigating the
challenges encountered by parents of ASD children will be
included. Data from primary caregivers of kids with ASD
(father or mothers) presents a comprehensive and coherent
literature review.
Literature Review
Glynn (2015) defines autism as a developmental disability that
significantly affects social interaction and cognitive functions.
Other common characteristics linked with autism include
stereotyped movement and queer responses to sensitive
experiences. Far from that autism has become an increasingly
fundamental public health issue as the number of children with

this disorder continues to go up. A good number of people with
this condition report unique behaviors with respect to academic-
related issues or reactions to normal situations. As Glynn
(2015) mentioned, people with ASDs portray various levels of
intelligence ranging from gifted type or severely challenged. At
this point it imperative to note that the disorder can crop as
early as 3 years and last throughout one’s entire life. It’s
surprising to note that irrespective of ethnic or socioeconomic
group, boys are more vulnerable in comparison to girls. Autistic
children not only lack normal behaviors but they are also
associated with extreme withdraw. In this regard, autistic
children are difficult to rise because they require special
attention and care. Caregivers of victims with autism spectrum
disorder have more parenting tension in comparison to those
with normal children, children with trisomy 21. Outstanding
upbringing problems can be detrimental because they can
interfere with the quality of service provided by the caregivers.
As many studies have confirmed this results in poor health or
stress which prevent proper growth and development. Bearing
this in mind, it is imperative to find out parenting problems and
efforts applied in intervention and prevention. Based on the
problem, this paper identifies a theoretical perspective that
could provide the framework of the study. In this context, the
paper will compose a coherent literature review to demonstrate
the current research based on the identified problem.
Conferring with Weilauf et al (2014) parenting kids with ASD
can be tough and more stressful in comparison to parenting
children with normal development. Besides, parents of ASD
victims are vulnerable to other health problems. For better
insight, stress is the major causes of diseases. One group
comparison confirmed that parents of kids with this condition
are constantly under stress and besides they have a lower level
of health compared to parents raising normal developing
children. The most common sources of stress in caregivers of
children with ASD vary greatly. Unpredictable emotion is is of
the major sources of anxiety/stress. Zaidman-Zait et al (2016)

goes on to explain that financial worries play a significant part
in contributing to stress in parents with ASD.
According to Cidav, Marcus & Mandell (2012), ASD children
require treatment interventions and special education which may
stress parents and sometimes cause depression. However,
research demonstrates the fundamental role of social support in
upbringing victims of autism spectrum disorder. Cidav, Marcus
& Mandell (2012) emphasis on the importance to gain support
from experts in health care fields. Sharing the same thoughts as
Estes et al (2013), social support can help parents raising
children with developmental disabilities cope with stress. For
instance, with the intervention of medical professions, parents
can be taught basic skills to help them relate with their children.
It is imperative to note that most of the people with ASD have
problems communicating. As such, it is very hard to address
their needs which may further escalate their anger or emotions.
According to Huang et al (2014) different factors may
contribute to parenting stress. The research by Huang et al
(2014) found that both the behavioral and emotional problems a
child remarkably results in caregiver’s stress. The findings in
this study are very significant because they stress the
importance of diagnosing for other predictors that might show
the cause of stress in caregivers. As Brezis et al (2015)
mentioned, there have been diverging views regarding the
differences in stress levels experienced by parents. Some
studies have found the increased level of stress to be caused by
couples other than the child condition. Interestingly different
studies report different levels of stress in among parents.
Conferring with Glynn (2015) mothers are greatly affected by
autism spectrum children in comparison to fathers. Cultural is
another important element that plays a fundamental role when
determining victims of ASD. Arguably lack of information
about the condition is a major problem which worsens the
already escalating problem. The argument is that the lack of
information may lead to parents of children with autism to face
stigma and be affected by cultural beliefs.

As May et al (2015) reveals, the autism spectrum does not
discriminate against in terms of size, culture or backgrounds.
However, culture plays a very integral role in influencing how
the conditions are viewed. More importantly, culture can also
change how the condition is understood and accepted in
different societies. Some cultural myths deter people from
seeking assistance. Research reveals that some communities
mostly the non-white families have challenging getting
developmental services causing a delay. Many of the people at
the societal level lack adequate knowledge about the condition.
Parents of children with ASD struggle with their children
complex behavior which eventually results in stress. To clearly
understand the connection between the condition and parenting
stress, Lize et al (2014) familiarizes us with various factors that
play prominent roles in the level of parenting stress. Social
support is one the coping strategy used to reduce the level of
stress. Specifically, social support comes from learning
institutions, immediate family members and families
experiencing the same condition. The spousal relationship is
also fundamental in lowering the severity of stress among
parents. According to Lize et al (2014) professional assistance
also play a fundamental role in helping parents raise an autism
kid. In a study conducted in Singapore, escalated parental stress
was linked with higher professional consultations. The
collaboration between parents and profession remarkably
predicted parental stress. Large scale research reveals that
informational support plays a great role in enhancing the social
relationship between caregivers and their autism children.
Conferring with Zaidman-Zait et al (2016) severity of autism
symptoms have profound effects among parents of children
experiencing this condition. In other words, child severity of
child characteristics affects the maternal outcome. In an
instance where child symptoms are severe, parents have
reported adverse stressful conditions. Zaidman-Zait et al (2016)
reveals that mother tiredness is an adamant variable in
determining a mother-child relationship. Child behavioral

challenges contribute to maternal stress. In this regard, the
western countries awareness toward the condition is higher in
comparison to other regions of the world. In Asia for example,
parents of autism children deal with more stress in the sense
that there are is little or no awareness. In other cases, funding
policies in learning institutions as well as in mental health care
is insufficient. With little intervention in these regions, parents
of kids with this condition, experience high level of stress. On
the other hand parents of children with mild autism symptoms
experience a lower level of stress and are better able to cope
with children condition.
Regarding financial challenges, there is always the assumption
that this factor may result in higher levels of stress in fathers as
opposed to mothers. Accordingly, McStay et al (2014) in the
study found that financial constraints are a common source of
stress particularly to fathers of children with autism spectrum
disorder. Although the findings may reflect the paternal
dominance there is some sense in how Huang et al (2014)
argues that this the whole aspect of finance depends on who the
breadwinner of the family is. In some cultures, the man is the
sore breadwinner of the family meaning which means he would
be responsible for taking care of family members in terms of
education and health. A study conducted by McStay et al (2014)
confirmed that stress many be specific to both parents. Mothers,
for example, report stressful conditions concerning their
children symptoms and disabilities. On the contrary, fathers
often worry that their kids will never be “normal” and the child
dependency nature.
To emphasize on the role of mothers in child development,
mothers feel that they are responsible for their child an urge
that will make most of them resign from their work.
Consequently, fathers bear a sense of responsibility in term of
meeting the child educational, health as well as financial needs.
Whilst most studies show that nurturing underlies the factors
that determine the level of stress among parents, each party, is
more likely to respond to stress based on their perceived role in

the family.
The findings by Hayes & Watson (2013) seem to contradict
most of the studies to support the notion of possible gender
differences in how caregivers of victims of these conditions
experience stress. According to the study by Hayes & Watson
(2013) mothers are victims of physiological distress which
comes in the form of anxiety and depression. In line with this
notion, Hayes & Watson (2013) suggests that cultural beliefs as
well play a significant role in influencing the level of stress to
parent. This stems backs to how society views the diagnosis of
autism spectrum disorder. In this regard, parents who are
persuaded by societal beliefs are likely to feel helpless and use
drugs as a coping mechanism. However, this may be less
common in western context because of their higher awareness
and interventions in comparison to devolving nations. Glynn
(2015) insists that parents need to adopt positive coping
behaviors to effectively raise their kids. Some of the previously
affected areas in terms of cultural beliefs like Asian nations are
beginning to denounce from cultural beliefs and slowly
understanding the condition.
In regard to treatment and intervention, there is no specific
procedure for all victims. Instead, the type of treatment or
intervention prescribed depends on specific individual needs.
This is because a child may have severe or mild symptoms each
of which has its unique treatments. As aforementioned autism
cause abnormalities in the brain. The fact that these
abnormalities are not known makes it very difficult to cure.
Nevertheless, there are various types of treatment and
interventions including therapy and tools. As Glynn (2015)
pointed out to treat autism some people seek mental help, some
rely on special diets while others bond with animals. Worth
noting is that the effectiveness of each method depends on the
individual’s specific needs. Withstanding all these therapies has
been mentioned as the best treatment for autism. As earlier
mentioned an autistic child portray poor verbal and nonverbal
communication skills. Through therapy, however, a child can

regain communication skills. It is also imperative to note that
the treatment of autism is very undertaking involving different
parties from a child’s family members to mental health
professionals. As May et al (2015) mentioned some of these
treatments can be home-based while other others can be offered
in specialized classrooms.
A study conducted by Brezis et al (2015) reveals that autism
spectrum disorder is a condition that most parents do not want
to hear. As most parents reported in a structured survey, these
are words that instill sadness and worry. It’s a condition that
raises many questions. As such early intervention services like
speech therapy or occupational therapy before the age of 3 can
help improve the development of children with this condition.
Moreover, teachers are also fundamental in this entire process.
They should, therefore, be well educated to know as well as
understand early interventions approaches. According to
research early diagnosis helps improve early child development
abilities. Bearing in mind that autistic children portray
cognitive delay, early intervention means such characteristics
would be noted early and appropriate treatment or intervention
recommended. In this notion, there is a need to boost public
sensitization and increase social support at the societal level.
This is based on the fact some people have no clue how to treat
or respond to children with autism increasing the level of stress
for both parties, parents and children.
Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by an array of
disorders ranging from inability to communicate and antisocial
behaviors. As victims of autism increases, it is imperative to
understand the features, diagnostic not to mention intervention
and treatment approaches. This is fundamental because it
informs parents on how to interact and support their autism
children. A victim of the condition can potentially present a
challenge to those in their lives. Bearing this in mind being
familiar with current information regarding autism will the
process of interacting and working with people having the
condition more congenial. As mentioned in most studies,

autistic mannerism, as well as behavioral manners, is widely
discussed particularly considering encounters with parenting
pressures. Children living with autism are viewed differently
from their peers who lack developmental disabilities. Large
scale studies reveal that autistic children are a series of
hardship during socialization with their peers. In this context,
they often have problems interacting with other people. Their
antisocial behavior makes it difficult for them to make friends.
Moreover, autism needs to be justified to benefit both parents
and children. Family’s upbringing kids with this condition lack
access to opportunities due to limited finances.
References
Glynn, K. A. (2015). Predictors of parenting practices in parents
of children with autism spectrum disorder.
Hayes, S. A., & Watson, S. L. (2013). The impact of parenting
stress: A meta-analysis of studies comparing the experience of
parenting stress in parents of children with and without autism
spectrum disorder. Journal of autism and developmental
disorders, 43(3), 629-642.
McStay, R. L., Dissanayake, C., Scheeren, A., Koot, H. M., &
Begeer, S. (2014). Parenting stress and autism: The role of age,
autism severity, quality of life and problem behaviour of
children and adolescents with autism. Autism, 18(5), 502-510.
Weitlauf, A. S., Vehorn, A. C., Taylor, J. L., & Warren, Z. E.
(2014). Relationship satisfaction, parenting stress, and
depression in mothers of children with autism. Autism, 18(2),
194-198.
Estes, A., Olson, E., Sullivan, K., Greenson, J., Winter, J.,
Dawson, G., & Munson, J. (2013). Parenting-related stress and
psychological distress in mothers of toddlers with autism
spectrum disorders. Brain and Development, 35(2), 133-138.
Huang, C. Y., Yen, H. C., Tseng, M. H., Tung, L. C., Chen, Y.
D., & Chen, K. L. (2014). Impacts of autistic behaviors,
emotional and behavioral problems on parenting stress in

caregivers of children with autism. Journal of Autism and
Developmental Disorders, 44(6), 1383-1390.
Zaidman-Zait, A., Mirenda, P., Duku, E., Vaillancourt, T.,
Smith, I. M., Szatmari, P., ... & Zwaigenbaum, L. (2016).
Impact of personal and social resources on parenting stress in
mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism,
1362361316633033.
Lize, S. E., Andrews, A. B., Whitaker, P., Shapiro, C., &
Nelson, N. (2014). Exploring adaptation and fidelity in
parenting program implementation: Implications for practice
with families. Journal of Family Strengths, 14(1), 8.
May, C., Fletcher, R., Dempsey, I., & Newman, L. (2015).
Modeling relations among coparenting quality, autism-specific
parenting self-efficacy, and parenting stress in mothers and
fathers of children with ASD. Parenting, 15(2), 119-133.

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