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Parental Reaction to Early Diagnosis of Their Children’s Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Study

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Abstract

This study explores parental reactions subsequent to receiving their child’s autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-diagnosis. Seventy seven parents of recently diagnosed children participated in the Reaction to Diagnosis Interview. Within this group, associations between parental reaction to diagnosis, parental and child characteristics and prediagnostic circumstances were analysed. In a sub-sample, the stability of reaction to diagnosis was examined. The majority of parents were classified as ‘resolved’ regarding their child’s diagnosis. Conversely, parents of children with more severe ASD symptoms or non-Dutch parents were more likely to be classified as ‘unresolved’. Sub-sample analysis revealed stability of reaction to ASD-diagnosis. The majority of parents adapted well to the circumstances and the care for their child. Autism severity and parental nationality were significant factors affecting parental reactions. Thus, early identification of parental reaction to children’s ASD-diagnosis may aid in providing more tailored parental support programs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, A01.468, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Irina E. Poslawsky, Emma Van Daalen & Herman Van Engeland

  2. Center of Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Fabiënne B. A. Naber

  3. School of Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1728, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Fabiënne B. A. Naber

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  1. Irina E. Poslawsky
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  2. Fabiënne B. A. Naber
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  3. Emma Van Daalen
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  4. Herman Van Engeland
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Correspondence to Irina E. Poslawsky.

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Poslawsky, I.E., Naber, F.B.A., Van Daalen, E. et al. Parental Reaction to Early Diagnosis of Their Children’s Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Study. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 45, 294–305 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-013-0400-z

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