Grandchildren's autistic spectrum disorders and family functioning as predictors of grandmothers' strengths and needs
Item
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Title
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Grandchildren's autistic spectrum disorders and family functioning as predictors of grandmothers' strengths and needs
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:904ab19956be:10327
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identifier
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10206
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Creator
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Sullivan, Alison Beth,
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Contributor
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Marian C. Fish
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Date
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2009
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Educational psychology | Special education | Developmental psychology | Individual & family studies | Autism | Family Functioning | Family System | Grandchildren | Grandmother | Grandparent
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Abstract
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Literature on intergenerational relationships clearly illustrates the importance of the grandparent role in the family. While much research has been done on the grandparent role when children are typically developing, little research has been done on the grandparent role when children have special needs. This study looked at grandmothers of children with ASD. The investigator collected data from 34 mother -- grandmother dyads from children who were typically developing, 31 mother -- grandmother dyads from families of children who were diagnosed with HFA/AS, and 19 mother -- grandmother dyads from families of children who were diagnosed with AD. First, the study looked at consistency between mothers' and grandmothers' report of grandmothers' strengths and needs. Second, the study looked at the impact of grandchildren's ASD on grandmothers' strengths and needs. Finally, the study looked at the impact of family systems variables on grandmothers' strengths and needs. The study also looked at background variables that may impact grandmothers' strengths and needs. Results from the study partially supported the hypothesis that grandmothers will view circumstances as good as or better than mothers view circumstances. To a large extent there was agreement between grandmothers' and mothers' reports of grandmothers' strengths and needs. Where there were significant differences, grandmothers' reports of grandmothers' strengths and needs were more favorable than mothers' reports of grandmothers' strengths and needs. Grandmothers reported more strengths and fewer needs than mothers reported. Results from this study strongly supported previous research showing that grandparents of children with special needs are different from grandparents of children with typical development in terms of their role and experience. Results showed that grandmothers of children with ASD have fewer reported strengths and more needs than grandmothers of children with typical development. Results partially supported the hypothesis that family functioning will be associated with greater strengths and decreased needs for grandmothers, indicating that these variables, when unbalanced, hinder inclusion of grandmothers' involvement and satisfaction. Directions for future research and implications for education are also discussed.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Educational Psychology
