Date of Submission
2019
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Department
Psychology
Department Chair
Robert A DiTomasso, PhD, ABPP
First Advisor
Elizabeth Gosch PhD, ABPP
Second Advisor
Stephanie Felgoise PhD, ABPP
Third Advisor
Jessica Kendorski PhD, NCSP, BCBA-D
Abstract
The present study investigated factors that predict maternal caregivers’ quality of life in 115 mothers (25 - 55 years old) who had a child aged 5 to 12 years old with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Caregivers’ perceived stress and family cohesion were assessed to determine each factor’s predictive ability in predicting four domains of quality of life: physical health, psychological health, relationships, and environment. Results indicate that perceived stress significantly predicted all four quality-of-life domains. When adding in family cohesion, modest increases in predictive strength were observed for two domains of caregiver quality of life (i.e., psychological health and relationships). These results demonstrate that family variables have some modest impact on certain domains of quality of life and support further investigation and understanding of these and other related family variables.
Recommended Citation
Henry, Emily, "Family Cohesion and Perceived Stress as Predictors of Quality of Life in Maternal Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder" (2019). PCOM Psychology Dissertations. 501.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/psychology_dissertations/501