Abstract
The challenges faced by parents caring for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can amplify parenting stress, though the impacts of these challenges can be alleviated by social supports. A sample of 674 parent volunteers completed a survey probing the types of social supports currently being used, what function (i.e., tangible, emotional, financial, informational) they judged them to perform, and how each of the utilised supports reduced parenting stress and was considered helpful. Results indicated that informal social supports and social media were perceived as more helpful than formal supports, which were typically perceived in a neutral manner by parents. Overall, the study indicates that addressing the support needs of parents of a child with ASD remains a priority.
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Special thanks to Autism New Zealand for their support during this study.
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DS, SG and JL conceptualized the study. DS and JM designed the study and collected the data. DS and SG drafted the manuscript and along with JL carried out the analyses. All authors reviewed the manuscript critically, and approved the final version.
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Shepherd, D., Goedeke, S., Landon, J. et al. The Types and Functions of Social Supports Used by Parents Caring for a Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 50, 1337–1352 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04359-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04359-5