• Heather R Hall.
• Maternal Child Nursing Department, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688, USA. heatherhall@usouthal.edu
• Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs. 2012 Jan 1; 35 (2): 111-32.

BackgroundThe diagnosis of autism for children (from birth to age 21) continues to increase, with the current rate being 1 in 110 children in the US. Besides financial strain, families often experience reduced quality of life due to disruptive behaviors related to autism. Research indicates that social support for families of children with autism improves family coping and adaptation.MethodA descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted with 38 parents of children with autism. Using the McCubbin and Patterson (1983) model of family behavior, associations among behaviors of children with autism, community support for family, and family coping were analyzed.ResultsFindings of this study indicate an association between increased community supports and increased family coping strategies (r=.451; p=.005). Results also suggest the levels of disruptive behaviors associated with autism vary, community support can be but is not always helpful, and that the family's ability to cope with the challenges of autism is important to the family.

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