| The current study categorized treatments into four groups (behaviorally-based, play-based, school-based, and alternative treatments). Hypothesis 1 stated that users of play-based treatments would report the most satisfaction, followed by behaviorally-based, alternative, and then school treatments. Parental dysphoric mood and stress would follow the same pattern from fewest to most mood symptoms.;Hypothesis 2 predicted that parental dysphoric mood and stress would also be affected by variables across the categories of parent, child, and treatment domains. Additional exploratory questions reviewed relationships between parental mood and stress and parental emotional state before beginning treatment, participation in parent training, and parent educational level.;Results indicated that type of treatment had no effect on reported satisfaction, mood, or stress levels. Size of support network negatively predicted mood, while satisfaction with help received reduced stress. Number of life problems positively affected both mood and stress. Current age of the autistic child negatively affected depression, as did duration of treatment. Multiple regression analysis revealed that only satisfaction with help received, total support, and the age of the child were significant in predicting parental mood as individual contributors. Participation in parent training negatively affected satisfaction with treatment, and parent rating of emotional state before beginning treatment had a negative effect on depression and stress but a positive effect on satisfaction with treatment. Limitations to the study included small samples size, unbalanced treatment group sizes, and parent confusion and/or error in completing the survey. |
