DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/HJRK-6040
Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0310-9370
Defense Date
2020
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Education
First Advisor
Naomi Wheeler
Second Advisor
Abigail Conley
Third Advisor
Kaprea Johnson
Fourth Advisor
LaRon Scott
Fifth Advisor
Staci Carr
Abstract
Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience unique parenting demands. Although these parents often report high levels of mental health challenges, such as depression (e.g., Scherer et al., 2019), they also report resilience factors such as family support and hope (e.g., Ekas et al., 2016). The present study investigated a novel construct, family relationship hope, in parents of children with ASD by examining the psychometric properties of the Family Relationship Hope Scale (FRHS), variables associated with family relationship hope and its link with depression. Factor analyses examined the factor structure and model fit of the FRHS. The post-crisis phase of the Double ABCX model (McCubbin & Patterson, 1983) provided a framework to conceptualize possible predictors of family relationship hope, through three steps in a hierarchical linear regression. Finally, a logistic regression analysis examined the likelihood of participants having clinically significant depression (Kroenke et al., 2001).
Findings indicated a single factor structure, good model fit and internal reliability for the FRHS. Increased family support and having an adolescent child with ASD predicted higher family relationship hope, and relationship status and age of diagnosis served as important predictors in the model. Finally, family relationship hope significantly predicted the presence of clinically significant depression in parents of children with ASD. Results of the present study offer implications for counselor educators, mental health counselors, policy, and research that may help enhance the lives of families that include a child with ASD.
Rights
© Lindsay Ann Kozachuk
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-18-2020