Definition
“Parent expectations” is a term used to describe the beliefs parents hold about the likelihood their child will achieve certain outcomes. ASD literature on parent expectations has primarily focused on expectations about outcomes related to the transition to adulthood (e.g., participate in paid employment, live on their own without supervision).
Historical Background
Parent expectations have been widely studied in psychological and educational literature and have demonstrated relevance to a variety of youth achievement-related outcomes in many studies (e.g., Jeynes 2005; Yamamoto and Holloway 2010). The expectancy-value theory of achievement motivation, researched extensively by Allan Wigfield and Jacquelynne Eccles (e.g., Wigfield and Eccles 2000), describes the role of expectations in informing outcomes and achievement in a wide range of areas. According to Wigfield and Eccles (2000), what individuals expect to achieve and what they value directly influence their efforts,...
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References and Reading
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Kirby, A.V. (2021). Parent Expectations Mediate Outcomes for Youth with ASD. In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91280-6_102413
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