Effects of Autistic Spectrum Disorder on parental work outcomes.

This study, through nine hypotheses, examined the differences in parental coping ability mental health and stress satisfaction with marriage, life, and job and work interest and quality between parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and parents raising a typical child. Repeated measures analysis of variance and repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyse 28 families comprised of two parents and at least one child. The results indicated that parents of ASD children did not differ from parents of typical children on coping ability, world assumptions, marital satisfaction, satisfaction with life, interest and quality of work, or hours of work missed. The results did however show that parents of ASD children experienced significantly more parental stress and more mental health issues than did parents of typical children. Several conclusions were drawn on the relationship between coping ability, mental health, and work outcomes. --P.ii.