Relationship Quality, Parent Wellbeing and Child Functioning in Families of Young Children with an ASD

I am looking for mothers and fathers of young children (aged 2-5 years) with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Additionally, mothers and fathers will need to be in a relationship (de facto or married) to complete the questionnaire. 

Parenting a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder can be stressful due to the extra demands that it places on emotional, relational and physical resources. One of the aims of this project is to explore how the characteristics of children with an ASD (i.e. behaviour problems) may impact on a couple’s relationship. Additionally, parents of children with an ASD often report feeling very tired, or fatigued. Despite this, there is limited information about the extent of sleep disruption and fatigue in parents, and how this impacts on the parent’s relationship. Therefore, this project also aims to investigate the way characteristics of a child with an ASD (i.e. behaviour problems and sleep habits) impacts on parents’ wellbeing, and what effects this may have on a couple’s relationship. Mothers and fathers of children with an ASD aged between 2 and 5 years will be asked to complete an online questionnaire which will take approximately 30-40 minutes. Parents must be in a relationship (de facto or married) to complete this questionnaire.

It is anticipated that the results from this study will help to identify service delivery gaps for families affected by ASDs.  In addition, some participants may benefit from having the opportunity to reflect on their experiences within the family, specifically those involving wellbeing, fatigue, and the quality of their relationship.

Contact Details: http://opinio.online.swin.edu.au/s?s=11954