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Stress, Resiliency Factors, Quality of Life Among Caregivers of Children with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (HFASDs)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2012

Gloria K. Lee ,
Christopher Lopata ,
Martin A. Volker ,
Marcus L. Thomeer ,
Jennifer A. Toomey ,
Jonathan D. Rodgers ,
Audrey M. Smerbeck ,
Audrey L. Schiavo  and
Christin A. McDonald
Gloria K. Lee*
Affiliation:
University at Buffalo — the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
Christopher Lopata
Affiliation:
Institute for Autism Research, Canisius College, Buffalo, USA
Martin A. Volker
Affiliation:
University at Buffalo — the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
Marcus L. Thomeer
Affiliation:
Institute for Autism Research, Canisius College, Buffalo, USA
Jennifer A. Toomey
Affiliation:
Summit Educational Resources, Getzville, NY, USA
Jonathan D. Rodgers
Affiliation:
University at Buffalo — the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
Audrey M. Smerbeck
Affiliation:
University at Buffalo — the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
Audrey L. Schiavo
Affiliation:
Summit Educational Resources, Getzville, NY, USA
Christin A. McDonald
Affiliation:
University at Buffalo — the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Gloria K. Lee, PhD, Department of Counseling, School & Educational Psychology, University at Buffalo — the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA. E-mail: glee4@buffalo.edu
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Abstract

This study investigated the relationships among stress, intrapersonal resiliency factors (self-esteem, locus of control, and optimism) and quality of life [QOL] (physical health and mental health) among caregivers of children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders (HFASDs). Participants consisted of 113 caregivers of children with HFASDs (males = 38.1%, females = 61.9%; age range = 27–62; 93.6% Caucasians) and 47 caregivers of typically developing children (males = 29.8%; females = 70.2%; age range = 30–56; 93.3% Caucasians). They completed a set of self-rating surveys on perceived locus of control, self-esteem, optimism, and QOL. Within-group inferential statistical analyses were applied. For the HFASD group analyses, two simultaneous regression analyses were used to study the independent effects of the three intrapersonal variables on the physical health and mental health QOL of the caregivers. Intrapersonal factors predicted self-reported mental health QOL but not physical health QOL in caregivers of children with HFASDs.

Keywords

resiliency factorsquality of lifecaregiverschildren with HFASDs
Type
Articles
Information
The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , July 2012 , pp. 25 - 36
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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