Quality of life in families of young children with autism spectrum disorder

Catherine Mello; Mélina Rivard; Amélie Terroux; Céline Mercier

doi:10.1352/1944-7558-124.6.535

Quality of life in families of young children with autism spectrum disorder

Catherine Mello, Mélina Rivard, Amélie Terroux, Céline Mercier

Division of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (Berks)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study investigated family quality of life (FQOL) as experienced by 493 mothers and fathers (295 families) of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prior to receiving early intervention services in the province of Québec. These families were most satisfied with their physical and material well-being and least satisfied with their family interactions. Children’s level of functioning across various standardized and subjective measures were positively associated with parents’ FQOL. In both parents, family characteristics associated with financial and personal resources were also linked to FQOL. The child’s age and the number of children were associated with mothers’ FQOL. Overall, these findings provide a portrait of ASD-related stressors and resources relevant to both parents during the early childhood period.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	535-548
Number of pages	14
Journal	American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Volume	124
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1352/1944-7558-124.6.535
State	Published - 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Clinical Neurology
Psychiatry and Mental health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1352/1944-7558-124.6.535

Cite this

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title = "Quality of life in families of young children with autism spectrum disorder",

abstract = "The present study investigated family quality of life (FQOL) as experienced by 493 mothers and fathers (295 families) of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prior to receiving early intervention services in the province of Qu{\'e}bec. These families were most satisfied with their physical and material well-being and least satisfied with their family interactions. Children{\textquoteright}s level of functioning across various standardized and subjective measures were positively associated with parents{\textquoteright} FQOL. In both parents, family characteristics associated with financial and personal resources were also linked to FQOL. The child{\textquoteright}s age and the number of children were associated with mothers{\textquoteright} FQOL. Overall, these findings provide a portrait of ASD-related stressors and resources relevant to both parents during the early childhood period.",

author = "Catherine Mello and M{\'e}lina Rivard and Am{\'e}lie Terroux and C{\'e}line Mercier",

note = "Funding Information: Portions of this work were presented at the 2017 AIDD and 2018 INSAR annual meetings. This research was supported by grants from the Mont{\'e}r{\'e}gie Health Agency and the Qu{\'e}bec Ministry of Health and Social Services to C{\'e}line Mercier and M{\'e}lina Rivard. The authors wish to thank the CRDITED Mont{\'e}r{\'e}gie-Est and its staff for their support, as well as all the families who participated in this study. The authors also thank Lauren Hammond, whose assistance was invaluable in preparing this manuscript. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 American Association on Mental Retardation. All rights reserved.",

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doi = "10.1352/1944-7558-124.6.535",

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AU - Mello, Catherine

AU - Rivard, Mélina

AU - Terroux, Amélie

AU - Mercier, Céline

N1 - Funding Information: Portions of this work were presented at the 2017 AIDD and 2018 INSAR annual meetings. This research was supported by grants from the Montérégie Health Agency and the Québec Ministry of Health and Social Services to Céline Mercier and Mélina Rivard. The authors wish to thank the CRDITED Montérégie-Est and its staff for their support, as well as all the families who participated in this study. The authors also thank Lauren Hammond, whose assistance was invaluable in preparing this manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © 2019 American Association on Mental Retardation. All rights reserved.

PY - 2019

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Quality of life in families of young children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

UN SDGs

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