Parental Involvement And Social Emotional Development Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The relations between parental involvement and social emotional development of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were discussed in this paper. Study 1 investigated 116 families with ASD children (85 boys and 3lgirls) using Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (parent report version). The average age of children in this study was 6.30 (SD=3.358). Explanatory multiple-case method was used in Study 2. Nine families with an ASD child were recorded by depth interview and participant observation.Research findings show that:A. Social emotional development of ASD children was in retard, whose average score of difficulties was 18.83 (SD=4.957);B. Maternal involvement was much higher than paternal involvement (t=-6.605, df=105,p<001), while parental involvement was related to parental education, connubial support and their relationship (|r|=0.219～0.619, p<.05);C. Fathers and mothers reporting higher involvement had children with better social emotional outcomes (i.e., more demand expression, eye contact, interests of men and things, and emotional stability), especially in emotional symptoms. But it was not significant statistically after controlling children’s age and levels of difficulties;D. Acceptance of children’s ASD and acquisition of skills positively contributed to parental involvement.All these findings suggest that increasing parental involvement can have positive benefits for ASD children’s social emotional development by teaching their parents effective upbringing skills and consolidating their affinity.