Posttraumatic Growth Among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in China and Its Relationship to Family Function and Mental Resilience: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to examine the posttraumatic growth (PTG) of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the association among family function, mental resilience and PTG.

Design and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 205 parents of children with ASD in the clinical department of a university-affiliated hospital in Guangzhou from January to October 2019. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Family Assessment Device, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale were employed for data collection.

Results: The mean PTG score of parents was 59.56±18.46; and 24.63%, 43.84%, and 32.51% of parents exhibited a high level, moderate level and low level, respectively, of PTG. The problem-solving dimension of family function (p = 0.005) and the strength dimension of mental resilience (p ≤0.001) were positively related to PTG.

Conclusions: Parents of children with ASD experienced moderate PTG overall. The problem-solving dimension of family function and the strength dimension of mental resilience were significant predictors of PTG.

Practical implications: Interventions to improve family function and the mental resilience of parents with ASD children could contribute to improving the PTG of parents.

Keywords: Autism Spectrum disorder; Family function; Mental resilience; Parent; Posttraumatic growth.