Journal Article

Mothers' and fathers' self-report of involvement with autistic, mentally delayed, and normal children

Konstantareas, M.M, Homatidis, S

1992

Overview

Ninety-six mothers and fathers reported involvement with their autistic, mentally delayed, and normal children for two days when both parents were home. Parents in this province-wide Ontario sample were asked to record the length and to rate the quality of interactions. Parents of normal and mentally delayed children reported greater involvement than parents of children with autism, Across groups, mothers reported longer involvement than fathers, with mothers of autistic children reporting less contact than mothers of the mentally delayed. Fathers of autistic children were also less involved than fathers of mentally delayed children. Best predictors of low involvement for fathers was having an autistic and a first-born or only child. For mothers, a large family size, having an autistic child, and an older child predicted lower involvement. Parents of normal children were the most likely to report contacts with their child as being fun.

• Publisher: National Council on Family Relations,Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subject: Autism / autistic children / Autistic disorder / behavior disorders / Canada / Child care / Child psychiatry / Childbirth / Childrearing Practices / Children / Children & youth / children with disabilities / Delayed / demography / Developmental disabilities / Families & family life / Family roles / Father-child relations / Fathers / Foreign Countries / Learning disabilities / Mental disorders / Mentally Delayed Children / Mentally Retarded / Mothers / Ontario / Parent Child Relations / Parent Child Relationship / Parent Participation / parent-child relationships / Parents / Parents & parenting / Self report / Sex Differences / Social interaction / Social research