Mothers' Attributions Following Their Child's Diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Exploring Links with Maternal Levels of Stress, Depression and Expectations about Their Child's Future

Autor/inn/en	Dale, Emily; Jahoda, Andrew; Knott, Fiona
Titel	Mothers' Attributions Following Their Child's Diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Exploring Links with Maternal Levels of Stress, Depression and Expectations about Their Child's Future
Quelle	In: Autism: The International Journal of Research & Practice, 10 (2006) 5, S.463-479 (17 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1362-3613
DOI	10.1177/1362361306066600
Schlagwörter	Attribution Theory; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Clinical Diagnosis; Stress Variables; Interviews; Mothers; Mother Attitudes; Depression (Psychology); Anxiety; Expectation; Measures (Individuals); Self Efficacy; Attitude Measures; Autism + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Mother; Mutter; Mutterliebe; Angst; Expectancy; Erwartung; Messdaten; Self-efficacy; Selbstwirksamkeit; Autismus
Abstract	Although the impact of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) on the family is well recognized, the way mothers attempt to make sense of the diagnosis is largely unexplored. However, in other disabilities, attributions have been shown to predict a variety of outcomes including maternal wellbeing and engagement in treatment. Using Weiner's (1985) three-dimensional model, 16 mothers were interviewed to examine the nature and impact of their beliefs about their child's ASD using semi-structured interviews and measures of depression, parenting stress and expectations for their child's future. The findings suggested that mothers made a diverse and complex range of attributions that were consistent with Weiner's dimensions of locus of cause, stability and controllability. The nature of their attributions reflected particular difficulties associated with ASDs, such as uncertainties regarding cause and prognosis. Taking account of mothers' search for meaning will better enable professionals to support families following diagnosis. (Contains 2 tables and 1 note.) (Author).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10