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Saturday, May 17, 2008
Champagne Terrace/Bordeaux (Novotel London West)
9:30 AM
Background: Mothers of children with autism (CWA) often demonstrate clinically significant stress levels and high rates of depression (Tomanik et al., 2004; Abbeduto et all, 2004). Factors associated with maternal stress include parenting efficacy, social support and negative child behaviors. Mothers of CWA participate less in social activities, have smaller support networks, and reportedly fear that the public will not understand their child (Seltzer et al., 2001; Koegel et al., 1992). Thus, it appears fear of negative social judgment (FNSJ) may also contribute to elevated maternal stress levels. FNSJ may have further influences on child development by altering his/her social environment and community-learning opportunities (Bronfenbrenner, 1998; Iarocci et al., 2006).
Objectives: The current study investigates the addition of FNSJ (negative judgment by social network members and unknown people in public situations) as a possible predictor of maternal stress.
Methods: 68 mothers of CWA participated in a one-hour phone interview in which the Parenting Stress Index, Scales of Independent Behavior-R, Autism Behavior Checklist, the Social Support Questionnaire and the Family Impact Questionnaire (revised to assess parent efficacy and fear of social judgment) were administered.
Results: A simple regression analysis was used to examine FNSJ as a predictor of maternal stress levels. Overall, results indicated that the addition of FNSJ to the traditional predictors of maternal stress significantly predicted maternal stress levels (r2 = .49, p < .001). FNSJ was found to be a greater predictor of maternal stress than either the child’s adaptive behavior or maternal social network satisfaction.
Conclusions: The current study reveals that FNSJ, a previously un-examined construct, is a significant new and unique predictor of maternal stress. The assessment of FNSJ may help to identify mothers of CWA at high risk for adverse mental health outcomes and may have implications for programs/interventions aimed at supporting family functioning.
Objectives: The current study investigates the addition of FNSJ (negative judgment by social network members and unknown people in public situations) as a possible predictor of maternal stress.
Methods: 68 mothers of CWA participated in a one-hour phone interview in which the Parenting Stress Index, Scales of Independent Behavior-R, Autism Behavior Checklist, the Social Support Questionnaire and the Family Impact Questionnaire (revised to assess parent efficacy and fear of social judgment) were administered.
Results: A simple regression analysis was used to examine FNSJ as a predictor of maternal stress levels. Overall, results indicated that the addition of FNSJ to the traditional predictors of maternal stress significantly predicted maternal stress levels (r2 = .49, p < .001). FNSJ was found to be a greater predictor of maternal stress than either the child’s adaptive behavior or maternal social network satisfaction.
Conclusions: The current study reveals that FNSJ, a previously un-examined construct, is a significant new and unique predictor of maternal stress. The assessment of FNSJ may help to identify mothers of CWA at high risk for adverse mental health outcomes and may have implications for programs/interventions aimed at supporting family functioning.