ERIC Number: EJ946694
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Dec
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: N/A
Marital Quality and Psychological Adjustment among Mothers of Children with ASD: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Relationships
Benson, Paul R.; Kersh, Joanne
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v41 n12 p1675-1685 Dec 2011
Using data drawn from a longitudinal study of families of children with ASD, the current study examined the impact of marital quality on three indicators of maternal psychological adjustment: depressed mood, parenting efficacy, and subjective well-being. Multiple regression analyses indicated marital quality to be a significant cross-sectional and longitudinal predictor of maternal adjustment. In the cross-sectional regressions, marital quality negatively predicted maternal depression and positively predicted parenting efficacy, and well-being, while in the longitudinal regressions, initial levels of marital quality negatively predicted maternal depressed mood and positively predicted well-being at follow-up. Longitudinal regression results also revealed that marital quality mediated the relationship between family SES and maternal well-being. Study limitations and implications are discussed.
Descriptors: Mothers, Marital Satisfaction, Autism, Child Rearing, Depression (Psychology), Adjustment (to Environment), Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Interpersonal Relationship, Longitudinal Studies, Parenting Skills, Well Being, Predictor Variables, Socioeconomic Status
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A