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Wang F, Memis I, Durocher JS, Furar E, Cavalcante L, Eshraghi RS, Samson AC, Van Herwegen J, Dukes D, Alessandri M, Mittal R, Eshraghi AA. Efficacy of coping mechanisms used during COVID-19 as reported by parents of children with autism. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283494. [PMID: 37053138 PMCID: PMC10101447 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic's alterations to daily life have been especially challenging for families with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), worsening the core features of ASD and overall mental health. With the increased need for effective coping, the current retrospective study used data from a survey regarding parent reports of how often their child with ASD used certain coping strategies (frequency), as well as the extent to which they felt their child benefitted from their use (efficacy) in mitigating stress during the pandemic. This retrospective study Repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted to evaluate whether there were significant differences in both frequency and efficacy ratings for each coping strategy, for the entire sample as well as for three children's age groups. Using Spearman's rank-order correlations, correlation coefficients between the frequency and efficacy of each coping strategy were explored. Results revealed that maladaptive strategies were used more frequently than adaptive strategies, while parent routine as the most frequently used and efficacious for all age groups. Additionally, for adaptive strategies, humor and focusing on the positive had the strongest correlations between frequency and efficacy ratings amongst all age groups. Of the maladaptive strategies, repetitive behaviors, rumination, and isolation had the strongest correlations for the youngest, middle, and oldest age groups, respectively. Further, for each age group, the adaptive coping strategies had stronger correlations between frequency and efficacy than the maladaptive ones. It is our hope that the results of this study will lay the foundation for developing adaptive coping strategies to alleviate stress in children with ASD. Further investigations using a larger cohort are warranted to determine effective coping strategies for individuals with ASD across a range of situations, including acute stressors (such as future public health emergencies and natural disasters), as well as common daily stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Wang
- Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Idil Memis
- Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jennifer S Durocher
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, United States of America
| | - Emily Furar
- Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Leylane Cavalcante
- Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Rebecca S Eshraghi
- Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Andrea C Samson
- Institute of Special Education, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Faculty of Psychology, Unidistance Suisse, Brig, Switzerland
| | - Jo Van Herwegen
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL, Institute of Education, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Dukes
- Institute of Special Education, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Michael Alessandri
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, United States of America
| | - Rahul Mittal
- Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Adrien A Eshraghi
- Hearing Research and Communication Disorders Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
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Gonsalvez CJ, Deane FP, O'donovan A. Introduction to the Special Issue Recent Developments in Professional Supervision: Challenges and Practice Implications. AUSTRALIAN PSYCHOLOGIST 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ap.12276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Frank P. Deane
- Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong,
| | - Analise O'donovan
- School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University,
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Vuijk R, de Nijs PF, Deen M, Vitale S, Simons-Sprong M, Hengeveld MW. Temperament and character in men with autism spectrum disorder: A reanalysis of scores on the Temperament and Character Inventory by individual case matching. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2018; 12:55-59. [PMID: 30259003 PMCID: PMC6151855 DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interest in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in adulthood is increasing. Although a person may be diagnosed with ASD, the diagnosis reveals little about the individual's temperament, character, and personality. Also, relatively little is known about the personality of adults with ASD. METHOD A reanalysis of scores on the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) administered to a group of 66 normally intelligent men aged 18-63 years, diagnosed with ASD, by individual case matching to a comparison group of 66 men from the general population drawn from the TCI manual. RESULTS Compared to the comparison group, men with ASD scored significantly higher on the scale for Harm Avoidance, and lower on Novelty Seeking, Reward Dependence, Self-Directedness, and Cooperativeness. CONCLUSIONS In this study the score pattern for temperament and character found in men with ASD by individual case matching confirms and strengthens earlier general group matching findings emerging from our 2012 study and from studies from Sweden and the Netherlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Vuijk
- Sarr Expertise Center for Autism, Parnassia Groep, Bavo Europoort, Oudedijk 76, 3062 AG, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pieter F.A. de Nijs
- Erasmus MC, Sophia Children's Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mathijs Deen
- Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Kiwistraat 32, 2552 DH, The Hague, the Netherlands
- Institute of Psychology, Methodology and Statistics Unit, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Salvatore Vitale
- Erasmus MC, Department of Psychiatry, 's Gravendijkwal 230, 3015 CE, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mirjam Simons-Sprong
- Sarr Expertise Center for Autism, Parnassia Groep, Bavo Europoort, Oudedijk 76, 3062 AG, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michiel W. Hengeveld
- Erasmus MC, Department of Psychiatry, 's Gravendijkwal 230, 3015 CE, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Video self-modeling is an effective intervention for an adult with autism. Case Rep Neurol Med 2014; 2014:425897. [PMID: 25276447 PMCID: PMC4168036 DOI: 10.1155/2014/425897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Revised: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
With the increases in size and strength that come with adulthood, challenging behaviours among those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can become critical. Few studies have explored behavioural interventions in adults with ASD, though recent studies have shown video self-modeling (VSM) to be effective in children with ASD. VSM involves an individual watching videos of himself demonstrating prosocial behaviours, while those behaviours are pointed out and encouraged. In the current study, VSM was used to encourage prosocial behaviours and to reduce problematic behaviour displayed by an adult with ASD. Results reveal a decrease in the tendency to invade others' personal space and make inappropriate loud noises. VSM may be an effective intervention and improve the lives of adults with ASD.
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Cridland EK, Jones SC, Magee CA, Caputi P. Family-focused autism spectrum disorder research: a review of the utility of family systems approaches. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2013; 18:213-22. [PMID: 24092840 DOI: 10.1177/1362361312472261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A family member with an autism spectrum disorder presents pervasive and bidirectional influences on the entire family system, suggesting a need for family-focused autism spectrum disorder research. While there has been increasing interest in this research area, family-focused autism spectrum disorder research can still be considered relatively recent, and there are limitations to the existing literature. The purpose of this article is to provide theoretical and methodological directions for future family-focused autism spectrum disorder research. In particular, this article proposes Family Systems approaches as a common theoretical framework for future family-focused autism spectrum disorder research by considering theoretical concepts such as Boundaries, Ambiguous Loss, Resilience and Traumatic Growth. We discuss reasons why these concepts are important to researching families living with autism spectrum disorder and provide recommendations for future research. The potential for research grounded in Family Systems approaches to influence clinical support services is also discussed.
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