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Social Support and Family Functioning in Chinese Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Author

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  • Xianmei Lei

    (Faculty of Special Education, Leshan Normal University, Leshan 614000, China
    Center of Evidence-based Education & Arts Therapies, Faculty of Education, Palacky University, 79900 Olomouc, Czech Republic)

  • Jiří Kantor

    (Center of Evidence-based Education & Arts Therapies, Faculty of Education, Palacky University, 79900 Olomouc, Czech Republic
    Institute of Special Education Studies, Faculty of Education, Palacky University, 79900 Olomouc, Czech Republic)

Abstract

Families caring for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have reported poorer family functioning. Social support might strengthen family functioning, but limited research to date has focused on this association in China. This study conducted a cross-sectional survey of Chinese families that have children with ASD to examine the relationship between social support and family functioning. Caregivers of children with ASD from Sichuan province in China ( N = 167) were surveyed concerning their perceived social support and family functioning. The Social Support Rating Scale was used to investigate caregivers’ perceived social support from three dimensions: subjective support, objective support, and the utilization of support. A Chinese version of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale was used to investigate their perceptions of family cohesion and adaptability. The Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression were used for analyses. The results suggested that social support was positively related to family cohesion and adaptability. Of the three sub-domains of social support, both subjective support and the utilization of support were positively associated with family cohesion and adaptability. The study’s findings evidenced the importance of different types of social support and could be used to develop a targeted support service for families that have children with ASD to improve their family functioning and sustain the family unit.

Suggested Citation

  • Xianmei Lei & Jiří Kantor, 2021. "Social Support and Family Functioning in Chinese Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-10, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3504-:d:525553
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yangjun Tu & Zhi Yang, 2016. "Self-Control as Mediator and Moderator of the Relationship Between Social Support and Subjective Well-Being Among the Chinese Elderly," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 126(2), pages 813-828, March.
    2. Ereny Gobrial, 2018. "The Lived Experiences of Mothers of Children with the Autism Spectrum Disorders in Egypt," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-11, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xincheng Huang & Yuqian Deng & Pu Ge & Xiaonan Sun & Mengjie Huang & Hejie Chen & Yanyan Wang & Baojun Suo & Zhiqiang Song & Yibo Wu, 2022. "College Students’ Degree of Support for Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Kasper Sipowicz & Tadeusz Pietras & Marlena Podlecka & Łukasz Mokros, 2022. "The Association between Depression and Perceived Stress among Parents of Autistic and Non-Autistic Children—The Role of Loneliness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-9, March.
    3. Lin Zhang & Xueyao Ma & Xianglian Yu & Meizhu Ye & Na Li & Shan Lu & Jiayi Wang, 2021. "Childhood Trauma and Psychological Distress: A Serial Mediation Model among Chinese Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-11, June.
    4. Xianglian Yu & Xiangtian Kong & Ziyu Cao & Zhijuan Chen & Lin Zhang & Binbin Yu, 2022. "Social Support and Family Functioning during Adolescence: A Two-Wave Cross-Lagged Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-10, May.

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