Family status and emotional burnout of parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Abstract

The article analyzes the family system as an important factor and resource of development in the organization of assistance to a child with ASD. The results of an empirical study of parental burnout and family situation experience in relation to the nature of family communication in mothers and fathers of children with ASD are presented. In a sample of 47 parents aged from 27 to 54 years (20 fathers and 27 mothers; the average age of fathers is 39.5 + 6.1, the average age of mothers is 37.7 + 6.2), raising children with ASD, the material was collected using the author's questionnaire, the questionnaire “Parental burnout”, the method “Typical family status” and the projective method “Family sociogram”. The results of the study showed a higher level of emotional exhaustion in the group of mothers. Symbiotic, close intersecting relationships in the studied families, which serve as some support and support in the current situation, are accompanied by a decrease in the parents’ indicators of neuropsychic stress, while distancing in family relations, on the contrary, is accompanied by an increase in neuropsychic stress. It is also revealed that the preservation of marital relations is accompanied by the acceptance of oneself as a parent who adequately fulfills their parental functions. 

Keywords: autism spectrum disorders, parental burnout, experiencing a family situation, emotional exhaustion, communication in the family, symbiotic relationships, distancing

* The research was supported by the Russian Foundation of Basic Research (RFBR), the scientific project no. 18-013-00925

DOI 10.25205/2658-4506-2020-13-1-32-48