Abstract

MEIMES, Maíra Ainhoren; SALDANHA, Helena Castro  and  BOSA, Cleonice Alves. Maternal adaptation to autism spectrum disorder: relationships between beliefs, feelings and psychosocial factors. Psico (Porto Alegre) [online]. 2015, vol.46, n.4, pp. 412-422. ISSN 1980-8623.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2015.4.18480.

The beliefs and feelings associated with the development of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) play an important part in maternal adaptation. However, these factors are not always comprehended based on associated psychosocial aspects. OBJECTIVE: to investigate the beliefs and feelings of mothers of ASD children, associating them to various psychosocial factors based on Bradford’s biopsychosocial metamodel. Boundaries: transversal and exploratory study of multiple cases. Participants: four mothers (aged 38 to 45 years) of ASD boys (ages between 3 years and 5 months and 6 years and 9 months). Instruments: Maternal Perception of Child Interview, Demographic Data and Child Development Interview, Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). RESULTS: mothers’ beliefs about child development, ability to indentify children’s skills and their own sense of auto-efficiency are related to many psychosocial factors: perception of intra and extra-family resources and quality of health-care systems. It is discussed that the diagnosis impact may be mediated by psychosocial factors.

Keywords : Autism; Mother-child interaction; Psychosocial factors; Case study.

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