Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Social Support and Well-being at Mid-Life Among Mothers of Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study investigated the impact of social support on the psychological well-being of mothers of adolescents and adults with ASD (n = 269). Quantity of support (number of social network members) as well as valence of support (positive support and negative support) were assessed using a modified version of the “convoy model” developed by Antonucci and Akiyama (1987). Having a larger social network was associated with improvements in maternal well-being over an 18-month period. Higher levels of negative support as well as increases in negative support over the study period were associated with increases in depressive symptoms and negative affect and decreases in positive affect. Social support predicted changes in well-being above and beyond the impact of child behavior problems. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbeduto, L., Seltzer, M. M., Shattuck, P., Krauss, M. W., Osmond, G., & Murphy, M. M. (2004). Psychological well-being and coping in mothers of youths with autism, Down syndrome, or fragile X syndrome. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 109, 237–254.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Akiyama, H., Antonucci, T., Takahashi, K., & Langfahl, E. S. (2003). Negative interactions in close relationships across the life span. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 58, 70–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonucci, T. C., & Akiyama, H. (1987). Social networks in adult life and a preliminary examination of the convoy model. Journal of Gerontology, 42, 519–527.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • August, K. J., & Sorkin, D. H. (2010). Marital status and gender differences in managing a chronic illness: The function of health-related social control. Social Science and Medicine, 71, 1831–1838.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barker, E. T., Hartley, S. L., Seltzer, M. M., Floyd, F. J., Greenberg, J. S., & Orsmond, G. I. (2010). Trajectories of emotional well-being in mothers of adolescents and adults with autism. Developmental Psychology, 47, 551–561.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benson, P. R., & Karlof, K. L. (2009). Anger, stress proliferation, and depressed mood among parents of children with ASD: A longitudinal replication. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 350–362.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, S. L., Richler, J., Cain, A. C., & Lord, C. (2007). Predictors of perceived negative impact in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 112, 450–461.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blacher, J., Neece, C. L., & Paczkowski, E. (2005). Families and intellectual disability. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 18, 507–513.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bromley, J., Hare, D. J., Davison, K., & Emerson, E. (2004). Mothers supporting autistic spectrum disorders: Social support, mental health status, and satisfaction with services. Autism, 8, 409–423.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bruininks, R. H., Woodcock, R. W., Weatherman, R. F., & Hill, B. K. (1996). Scales of independent behavior-revised. Itasca, IL: Riverside.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, A. S., Martinez-Pedraza, F. L., & Gray, S. A. O. (2009). Stability and individual change in depressive symptoms among mothers raising young children with ASD: Maternal and child correlates. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 1270–1280.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 310–357.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dush, C. M. K., & Amato, P. R. (2005). Consequences of relationship status and quality for subjective well-being. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 22, 607–627.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenhower, A. S., Baker, B. L., & Blacher, J. (2005). Preschool children with intellectual disability: Syndrome specificity, behavior problems, and maternal well-being. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 49, 657–671.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ekas, N. V., Lickenbrock, D. M., & Whitman, T. L. (2010). Optimism, social support, and well-being in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 1274–1284.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ekas, N., & Whitman, T. L. (2010). Autism symptom topography and maternal socioemotional functioning. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 115, 234–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finch, J. F., Okun, M. A., Barrera, M., Jr., Zautra, A. J., & Reich, J. W. (1989). Positive and negative social ties among older adults: Measurement models and the prediction of psychological distress and well-being. American Journal of Community Psychology, 17, 585–605.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green, S. A., & Carter, A. S. (2011). Predictors and course of daily living skills development in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. (Online ahead of print). doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1275-0.

  • Gurney, J., Fritz, M., Ness, K., Sievers, P., Newschaffer, C., & Shapiro, E. (2003). Analysis of prevalence trends of autism spectrum disorder in Minnesota. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 157, 622–627.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ha, J.-H. (2010). The effects of positive and negative support from children on widowed older adults’ psychological adjustment: A longitudinal analysis. The Gerontologist, 4, 471–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hastings, R. P., Allen, R., McDermott, K., & Still, D. (2002). Factors related to positive perceptions in mothers of children with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 15, 269–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hastings, R. P., Kovshoff, H., Ward, N. J., degli Espinosa, F., Brown, T., & Remington, B. (2005). Systems analysis of stress and positive perceptions in mothers and fathers of pre-school children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35, 635–644.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herring, S., Gray, K., Taffe, J., Tonge, B., Sweeney, D., & Einfeld, S. (2006). Behavior and emotional problems in toddlers with pervasive developmental disorders and developmental delay: Associations with parental mental health and family functioning. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50, 874–882.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ingersoll, B., & Hambrick, D. Z. (2011). The relationship between the broader autism phenotype, child severity, and stress and depression in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5, 337–344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ingersoll-Dayton, B., Morgan, D., & Antonucci, T. (1997). The effects of positive and negative social exchanges on aging adults. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 52, 190–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., & Le Couteur, A. (1994). Autism Diagnostic Interview—Revised: A revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24, 659–685.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lounds, J., Seltzer, M. M., Greenberg, J. S., & Shattuck, P. (2007). Transition and change in adolescents and young adults with autism: Longitudinal effects on maternal well-being. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 112, 401–417.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McNair, D., Lorr, M., & Droppleman, L. F. (1971). Profile of mood states. San Diego, CA: Educational and Industrial Testing Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merz, E.-M., & Huxhold, O. (2010). Wellbeing depends on social relationship characteristics: Comparing different types and providers of support to older adults. Ageing & Society, 30, 843–857.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearlin, L. I. (1989). The sociological study of stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 30, 241–256.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pottie, C. G., Cohen, J., & Ingram, K. M. (2009). Parenting a child with autism: Contextual factors associated with enhanced daily parental mood. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 34, 419–429.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rook, K. S. (1984). The negative side of social interaction: Impact on psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 1097–1108.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rook, K. S. (2001). Emotional health and positive versus negative social exchanges: A daily diary analysis. Applied Developmental Science, 5, 86–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seltzer, M. M., Greenberg, J. S., Hong, J., Smith, L. E., Almeida, D. M., Coe, C., et al. (2010). Maternal cortisol levels and child behavior problems in families of adolescents and adults with ASD. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 457–469.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shattuck, P. T., Wagner, M., Narendorf, S., Sterzing, P., & Hensley, M. (2011). Post-high school service use among young adults with an autism spectrum disorder. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 165, 141–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, L. E., Hong, J., Seltzer, M. M., Greenberg, J. S., Almeida, D. M., & Bishop, S. (2010). Daily experiences among mothers of adolescents and adults with ASD. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 167–178.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, L. E., Seltzer, M. M., & Greenberg, J. S. (2011). Daily health symptoms of mothers of adolescents and adults with fragile X syndrome and mothers of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1422-7.

  • Stack, S., & Eshleman, J. R. (1998). Marital status and happiness: A 17-nation study. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 60, 527–536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, J. L., & Seltzer, M. M. (2011). Employment and post-secondary educational activities for young adults with autism spectrum disorders during the transition to adulthood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, 566–574.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Umberson, D., & Montez, J. K. (2010). Social relationship and health: A flashpoint for health policy. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 51, S54–S66. doi:10.1177/0022146510383501.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, M. L. (2002). Hardiness and social support as predictors of stress in mothers of typical children, children with autism, and children with mental retardation. Autism, 6, 115–130.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Windsor, T. D., & Anstey, K. J. (2010). Age differences in psychosocial predictors of positive and negative affect: A longitudinal investigation of young, midlife, and older adults. Psychology and Aging, 25, 641–652.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging to support longitudinal research on families of adolescents and adults with autism (R01 AG08768, M. M. Seltzer, PI). We are extremely grateful to the families who participated in this study; without their generous support and commitment, our research would not be possible. We are also grateful for the support we received from the Waisman Center (P30 HD03352, M.M. Seltzer, PI).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, 53705, USA

    Leann E. Smith, Jan S. Greenberg & Marsha Mailick Seltzer

Authors
  1. Leann E. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jan S. Greenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marsha Mailick Seltzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leann E. Smith.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Smith, L.E., Greenberg, J.S. & Seltzer, M.M. Social Support and Well-being at Mid-Life Among Mothers of Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 1818–1826 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1420-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1420-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation