Parenting a Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Marital Status
Parenting a Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Marital Status
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the presence of a child with Autism
 Spectrum Disorder places parents at increased risk for divorce.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are lifelong neurodevelopmental disorders involving a triad
 of impairments in communication and social reciprocity and increases in repetitive/restricted
 interests and behaviors. ASD includes: autistic disorder, Asperger's syndrome, pervasive
 developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Rett's syndrome, and childhood
 disintegrative disorder as pervasive developmental disorders (American Psychiatric
 Association [DSM-IV-TR], 2000).

 Few disabilities appear to be more taxing on parents than ASDs.Parents of children with ASD
 fare worse on a variety of measures of well-being than parents of children without
 disabilities as well as parents of children with other types of disabilities.

 Studies investigating the impact of a child with disabilities, specifically ASD, are
 inconclusive. However, parents of children with ASD may be at increased risk for divorce due
 to a variety of personal and disability related factors. In Israel the relationship of having
 a child with autism on the probability of divorce has not been tested yet. The aim of this
 study is to profile this relationship and determine the magnitude and directionality of the
 effect raising ASD children has on the resilience of the institution of marriage and the
 satisfaction both partners derive. This will be tested using a short telephone survey.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  parents to a child with ASD

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  none